Sacrificial Agents for Fly Ash Concrete

ABSTRACT

A method of producing cementitious mixtures containing fly ash as one of the cementitious components, under air entrainment conditions. The method involves forming a mixture comprising water, cement, fly ash, optionally other cementitious materials, aggregate, conventional chemical admixtures, and an air entrainment agent and agitating the mixture to entrain air therein. Additionally, at least one sacrificial agent is also included in the mixture. The sacrificial agent is a material or mixture of materials that is not required to act as an air entrainment agent but interacts preferentially with components of the fly ash that otherwise neutralize, repress or depress the activity of the air entrainment agent. The invention includes cementitious mixtures and hardened concretes resulting from the method and fly ash treated with sacrificial agent, or air entrainment agent/sacrificial agent combinations, and processes for selecting suitable sacrificial agents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/762,762, filed Jan. 22, 2004, which is related to commonly owned provisional application Ser. No. 60/442,048, filed Jan. 24, 2003, and claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of this application under 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The disclosure of provisional application Ser. No. 60/442,048 is incorporated hereby by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the use of sacrificial agents in fly ash concrete and similar cementitious mixtures, and to the resulting mixtures and compositions. More particularly, the invention relates to sacrificial agents that reduce or eliminate detrimental effects of fly ash on the air entrainment properties of fresh concrete and similar mixtures.

II. Background Art

The partial replacement of portland cement by fly ash is growing rapidly, driven simultaneously by more demanding performance specifications on the properties of concrete and by increasing environmental pressures to reduce portland cement consumption. Fly ash can impart many beneficial properties to concrete such as improved rheology, reduced permeability and increased later-age strength; however, it also may have a negative influence on bleed characteristics, setting time and early strength development. Many of these issues can be managed by adjusting mixture proportions and materials, and by altering concrete placement and finishing practices. However, other challenging problems encountered when using certain fly ash are not always easily resolved. The most important difficulties experienced when using fly ash are most often related to air entrainment in concrete.

Air entrained concrete has been utilized in the United States since the 1930's. Air is purposely entrained in concrete, mortars and grouts as a protective measure against expansive forces that can develop in the cement paste associated with an increase in volume resulting from water freezing and converting to ice. Adequately distributed microscopic air voids provide a means for relieving internal pressures and ensuring concrete durability and long term performance in freezing and thawing environments. Air volumes (volume fraction) sufficient to provide protective air void systems are commonly specified by Building Codes and Standard Design Practices for concrete which may be exposed to freezing and thawing environments. Entrained air is to be distinguished from entrapped air (air that may develop in concrete systems as a result of mixing or the additions of certain chemicals). Entrained air provides an air void system capable of protecting against freeze/thaw cycles, while entrapped air provide no protection against such phenomena.

Air is also often purposely entrained in concrete and other cementitious systems because of the properties it can impart to the fresh mixtures. These can include: improved fluidity, cohesiveness, improved workability and reduce bleeding.

The air void systems are generated in concrete, mortar, or paste mixtures by introducing air entrainment admixtures (referred to as air entrainment agents or air-entraining agents) which are a class of specialty surfactants. When using fly ash, the difficulties in producing air-entrained concrete are related to the disruptive influence that some fly ashes have on the generation of sufficient air volumes and adequate air void systems. The primary influencing factor is the occurrence of residual carbon, or carbonaceous materials (hereafter designated as fly ash-carbon), which can be detected as a discrete phase in the fly ash, or can be intimately bound to the fly ash particles. Detrimental effects on air entrainment by other fly ash components may also occur, and indeed air entrainment problems are sometimes encountered with fly ash containing very low amounts of residual carbon.

Fly ash-carbon, a residue of incomplete coal or other hydrocarbon combustion, is in many ways similar to an ‘activated carbon’; as typical of the latter, fly ash-carbon can adsorb organic molecules in aqueous environments. In cement paste containing organic chemical admixtures, the fly ash-carbon can thus adsorb part of the admixture, interfering with the function and performance of the admixture. The consequences of this adsorption process are found to be particularly troublesome with air entrainment admixtures (air entrainment agents) which are commonly used in only very low dosages. In the presence of significant carbon contents (e.g. >2 wt %), or in the presence of low contents of highly reactive carbon or other detrimental fly ash components, the air entrainment agents may be adsorbed, interfering with the air void formation and stability; this leads to tremendous complications in obtaining and maintaining specified concrete air contents.

To minimize concrete air entrainment problems, ASTM guidelines have limited the fly ash carbon content to less than 6 wt %; other institutions such as AASHTO and State departments of transportation have more stringent limitations. Industry experience indicates that, in the case of highly active carbon (for example, high specific surface area), major interferences and problems can still be encountered, even with carbon contents lower than 1 wt %.

Furthermore, recent studies indicate that, while fly ash carbon content, as measured by loss on ignition (LOI) values, provides a primary indicator of fly ash behaviour with respect to air entrainment, it does not reliably predict the impact that a fly ash will have on air entrainment in concrete. Therefore, there currently exist no means, suitable for field quality control, capable of reliably predicting the influence that a particular fly ash sample will have on air entrainment, relative to another fly ash sample with differing LOI's, sources, or chemistries. In practice, the inability to predict fly ash behaviour translates into erratic concrete air contents, which is currently the most important problem in fly ash-containing concrete.

Variations in fly ash performance are important, not only because of their potential impact on air entrainment and resistance to freeze thaw conditions, but also because of their effects related to concrete strength. Just as concrete is designed according to Building Standards for a particular environment, specifications are also provided for physical performance requirements; a common performance requirement being compressive strength. An increase in entrained air content can result in a reduction in compressive strength of 3-6% for each additional percentage of entrained air. Obviously, variations in fly ash-carbon, which would lead to erratic variations in air contents, can have serious negative consequences on the concrete strength.

The fly ash-carbon air entrainment problem is an on-going issue that has been of concern since fly ash was first used nearly 75 years ago. Over the past ten years, these issues have been further exacerbated by regulations on environmental emissions which impose combustion conditions yielding fly ash with higher carbon contents. This situation threatens to make an increasingly larger portion of the available fly ash materials unsuitable for use in concrete. Considering the economic impact of such a trend, it is imperative to develop practical corrective schemes which will allow the use, with minimal inconvenience, of fly ash with high carbon contents (e.g., up to 10 wt %) in air-entrained concrete.

Air entrainment in fly ash-concrete may become yet more complicated by pending regulations that will require utilities to reduce current Hg emissions by 70-90%. One of the demonstrated technologies for achieving the Hg reduction is the injection of activated carbon into the flue gas stream after combustion so that volatile Hg is condensed on the high surface area carbon particles and discarded with the fly ash. Current practices are designed such that the added activated carbon is generally less than 1% by mass of the fly ash, but preliminary testing indicates this is disastrous when using the modified fly ash in air-entrained concrete.

The origin of air entrainment problems in fly ash concrete, and potential approaches to their solution, have been the subject of numerous investigations. Most of these investigations focussed on the ‘physical’ elimination of the carbon by either combustion processes, froth floatation, or electrostatic separation. To date, the proposed fly ash treatment approaches have found limited application due to their inherent limitations (e.g., separation techniques have limited efficiency in low carbon fly ash; secondary combustion processes are most suitable for very high carbon contents), or clue to their associated costs.

“Chemical” approaches have also been proposed to alleviate carbon-related problems in concrete air entrainment, for example through the development of alternative specialty surfactants for air entrainment agents such as polyoxyethylene-sorbitan oleate as an air entrainment agents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,978). Various other chemical additives or fly ash chemical treatments have been proposed, namely:

-   -   the addition of inorganic additives such as calcium oxide or         magnesium oxide (U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,815); this invention         prescribes the use of inorganic additives which may influence         other properties of fresh mortars or concrete, for example, rate         of slump loss and setting time;     -   the addition of C8 fatty acid salts (U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,362);         the octanoate salt is itself a surfactant, and it is said to         “stabilize the entrained air and lower the rate of air loss”         (Claim 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,362);     -   the use of a mixture of high-polymer protein, polyvinyl alcohol         and soap gel (U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,352); this discloses the use         of protein and polyvinyl alcohol, and optionally a colloid (for         example, bentonite) to formulate air entrainment admixtures;     -   treatment with ozone (U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,089); the ozone         oxidizes fly ash-carbon, reducing its absorption capacity for         surfactants and thus making the fly ash more suitable for use in         air entrained systems.

While each of the proposed solution may have potential merit, none has found significant acceptance in the industry, either because of their complexity and cost, or because of their limited performance in actual use. For example, a clear limitation to the addition of a second surfactant (e.g., C8 fatty acid salt), to compensate for the adsorption of the air entrainment agents surfactant, simply shifts the problem to controlling air content with a combination of surfactants instead of a single one. The problem of under- or over-dosage of a surfactant mixture is then the same as the problem discussed above with conventional air entrainment agents.

Hence, no practical solution currently exists which could efficiently relieve air entrainment problems for a wide variety of fly ash materials, in ready mix facilities or in the field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to facilitate the formation of cementitious mixtures containing fly ash, and solid products derived therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate air entrainment into such mixtures in a reliable and predictable fashion.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing an air-entraining cementitious mixture containing fly ash, comprising the steps of: forming a mixture comprising water, cement, fly ash, (and optionally other cementitious components, sand, aggregate, etc.) and an air entrainment agent (and optionally other concrete chemical admixtures); and entraining air in the mixture; wherein an amount of at least one sacrificial agent is also included in the mixture, the at least one sacrificial agent being a material that, when present in the mixture in the amount, need not itself act as an air entrainment agent and interacts preferentially with components of the fly ash that otherwise neutralize activity of the air entrainment agent, thereby permitting the air entrainment agent to function to entrain air in the mixture.

The amount of the sacrificial agent used in the cementitious mixture preferably exceeds the amount necessary to interact with all of the components of the fly ash. Thus, if the fly ash varies in content of the detrimental components from a minimum content to a maximum content according to the source or batch of the fly ash, the amount of the sacrificial agent preferably exceeds the amount necessary to interact with all of the detrimental components of the fly ash when present at their maximum content.

The sacrificial agent is preferably an aromatic organic compound bearing one or more sulfonate, carboxylate or amino group, and combinations of such groups, a glycol or glycol derivate having molecular weights of about 2000 Da or less, and any combination thereof. More preferably, the sacrificial agent is benzylamine, sodium 1-naphthoate, sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate, sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, sodium di-butyl naphthalene sulfonate, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, butoxyethanol, di-ethylene glycol butyl ether, di-propylene glycol methyl ether, polyethylene glycol and 1-phenyl 2-propylene glycol or a combination thereof. A combination of ethylene glycol phenyl ether and sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate is particularly preferred, wherein the relative proportion of the ethylene glycol phenyl ether and the sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate may vary in weight ratio from 1:5 to 50:1, and preferably in the range of about 1:1 to 20:1.

Even more preferably, the sacrificial agent is a compound selected from alcohols, diols, polyols, ethers, esters, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid derivatives, aromatic sulfonates, amines, alcoholamines, amides, ammonium salts, and polyglycols, particularly those for which LogKow is in the range of −3 to +2 (more preferably −2 to +2), and/or the HLB value is in the range of 5 to +20.

The total dosage of these combined sacrificial agents may vary widely. While there is no theoretical limit to the dosage of sacrificial agents (some may be added to considerable excess without detrimental effect), the practical maximum dosage would be that at which some property of the mixture, e.g. setting time, fluidity, bleeding, etc., would be affected significantly. With some sacrificial agents, this could be as high as 0.5% by weight of the cementitious material; if typically the fly ash constitutes 25 wt % of the cementitious material, the corresponding maximum dosage by wt of the fly ash would thus be 2.0%. From a cost perspective, depending on the particular sacrificial agent and other factors, the practical upper limit may commonly be in the order of 0.2% by weight of the cementitious material.

Preferably, the dosages vary from 0.01% to 0.5% by weight of cementitious materials (cement and fly ash) depending on the type and composition of the fly ash; more preferably the total dosage is in the range of 0.01% to 0.2%. In terms of the concentration of sacrificial agents relative to the fly ash, the total dosage is preferably from 0.01% to 1% by weight (wt/wt), or more preferably 0.02% to 0.5% by weight, or 0.02% to 0.2% by weight. Concentration relative to fly ash is important when the sacrificial agent is added first to the fly ash. If, typically, the fly ash is added in an amount of 30:70 by weight relative to the cement, a concentration range of 0.1% to 0.2% by weight fly ash would then translate to a range of 0.03% to 0.06% by weight of the cementitious material.

The sacrificial agent may be added to the air entrainment agent prior to mixing the air entrainment agent with the fly ash, cement and water. Alternatively, the sacrificial agent may be added to the fly ash prior to mixing the fly ash with the cement, water and the air entrainment agent. In the latter case, the sacrificial agent may be added to the fly ash by spraying a liquid containing the sacrificial agent onto the fly ash, or by blending a spray-dried solid sacrificial agent formulation with the fly ash.

Alternatively, the sacrificial agent may be added after the fly ash cement, water and conventional air entrainment agent have been mixed together.

The invention also relates to an air-entraining cementitious mixture produced by the process as described above, and a hardened mass of cementitious material produced by setting and hardening the air entrainment cementitious mixture.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an air-entraining cementitious mixture containing air, water, cement, fly ash, an air entrainment agent and an amount of sacrificial agent, the sacrificial agent being a material that, when present in the mixture in the appropriate amount, does not itself act as an air entrainment agent to a substantial amount (i.e. less than 2% vol of air entrainment), but interacts preferentially with components of the fly ash that neutralize the activity of the air entrainment agent, thereby permitting the air entrainment agent to function to entrain air as if the components were not present in the fly ash.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an air-entraining (air-entrained) hardened cementitious mass containing air, water, cement, fly ash, an air entrainment agent and an amount of at least one sacrificial agent, the sacrificial agent being a material that, when present in an amount in a mixture, which is a precursor of the hardened mass, does not itself act as an air entrainment agent but interacts preferentially with components of the fly ash that neutralize the activity of the air entrainment agent, thereby permitting the air entrainment agent to function to entrain air as if the components were not present in the fly ash.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a mixture (composition) suitable for use as a component of fly ash concrete or mortar, the mixture comprising fly ash and at least one sacrificial agent, the sacrificial agent being a material that does not itself act as an air entrainment agent when mixed with cement powder, an air entrainment agent and water, but interacts preferentially with components of the fly ash that neutralize activity of the air entrainment agent, thereby permitting the air entrainment agent to function as if the components were not present in the fly ash.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a mixture suitable for use as a component of fly ash concrete or mortar, the mixture comprising an air entrainment agent and at least one sacrificial agent, the sacrificial agent being a material that does not itself act as an air entrainment agent when mixed with cement powder and water but interacts preferentially with components of the fly ash that neutralize activity of the air entrainment agent, thereby permitting the air entrainment agent to function as if the components were not present in the fly ash.

The invention additionally relates to a mixture of sacrificial agents for use in the preparation of an air entrainment fly ash concrete, the mixture comprising a combination of ethylene glycol phenyl ether with or without the addition of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and other typical air entrainment admixture surfactants.

The invention also relates to methods of selecting suitable sacrificial agents from candidate compounds.

In one form of the present invention, compounds suitable as sacrificial agents may be compounds other than aromatic carboxylic acids or salts thereof (specifically hydroxyl-substituted aromatic carboxylic acids and salts, e.g. benzoic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid and their salts, or salicylic acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and their salts (e.g. lithium salicylate)). In such a form of the invention, these compounds are specifically excluded from the scope of claim.

In another form of the present invention, compounds suitable as sacrificial agents may include aromatic carboxylic acids or salts thereof (specifically hydroxyl-substituted aromatic carboxylic acids and salts, e.g. benzoic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid and their salts, or salicylic acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and their salts (e.g. lithium salicylate)).

As noted above, the invention concerns the novel uses of selected chemical additives, labelled “sacrificial agents” to eliminate or drastically reduce air entrainment problems encountered in concrete containing fly ash. Such additives, or combinations of such additives, may be added before (e.g. in the fly ash material), during, or after the concrete mixing operation. The use of these materials has the following advantages, at least in preferred forms of the invention. They:

-   -   enable adequate levels (typically 5-8 vol %) of gas, normally         air, to be entrained in concrete or other cemetitious products,         with dosages of conventional air entrainment agents that are         more typical of those required when no fly ash, or fly ash with         low carbon content, is used;     -   confer predictable air entrainment behaviour onto fly         ash-concrete regardless of the variability in the fly ash         material, such as the source, carbon content, chemical         composition;     -   do not interfere with cement hydration and concrete set time;     -   do not alter other physical and durability properties of         concrete;     -   do not significantly alter their action in the presence of other         concrete chemical admixtures, for example, water reducers,         superplasticizers and set accelerators; and     -   do not cause detrimental effects when added in excessive         dosages, such as excessive air contents, extended set times, or         strength reduction.

The acceptability of ‘over dosage’ of these sacrificial agents is a key preferred feature of the present invention, at least in its main forms, since large fluctuations in fly ash properties (carbon content, reactivity, etc.) can be accommodated by introducing a moderate excess of these sacrificial agents without causing other problems. This provides operators with a substantial trouble-free range or ‘comfort zone’.

The cementitious mixtures of the present invention may contain conventional ingredients such as sand and aggregate, as well as specific known additives.

DEFINITIONS

The term “fly ash”, as defined by ASTM C 618 (Coal Fly Ash or Calcined Natural Pozzolan For Use in Concrete) refers to a by product of coal combustion. However, the present invention may employ similar combustion products which are fine ashes or flue dusts resulting from co-firing various fuels with coal, or resulting from the combustion of other fuels that produce an ash having pozzolanic qualities (the ability to form a solid when mixed with water and an activator such ash lime or alkalis) or hydraulic qualities (the ability to form a solid when mixed with water and set). The ash itself has pozzolanic/hydraulic activity and can be used as a cementitious material to replace a portion of portland cement in the preparation of concrete, mortars, and the like. In general, the term fly ash as used herein includes:

-   -   1) Ash produced by co-firing fuels including industrial gases,         petroleum coke, petroleum products, municipal solid waste, paper         sludge, wood, sawdust, refuse derived fuels, switchgrass or         other biomass material, either alone or in combination with         coal.     -   2) Coal ash and/or alternative fuel ash plus inorganic process         additions such as soda ash or trona (native sodium         carbonate/bicarbonate used by utilities).     -   3) Coal ash and/or alternative fuel ash plus organic process         additives such as activated carbon, or other carbonaceous         materials, for mercury emission control.     -   4) Coal ash and/or alternative fuel ash plus combustion         additives such as borax.     -   5) Coal ash and/or alternative fuel gases plus flue gas or fly         ash conditioning agents such as ammonia, sulfur trioxide,         phosphoric acid, etc.

The term “fly ash concrete” means concrete containing fly ash and portland cement in any proportions, but optionally additionally containing other cementitious materials such as blast furnace slag, silica fume, or fillers such as limestone, etc. The proportions in which fly ash is typically used in concrete is well known to persons skilled in the art and is often in the range of 20-40% by weight of cementitious materials and may go up to 60 to 80% in so-called High Volume Fly Ash concrete.

The term “surfactants” is also well understood in the art to mean surface active agents. These are compounds that have an affinity for both fats (hydrophobic) and water (hydrophilic) and so act as foaming agents (although some surfactants are non-foaming, e.g. phosphates), dispersants, emulsifiers, and the like, e.g. soaps.

The term “air entrainment agent” (AEA) means a material that results in a satisfactory amount of air being entrained into a cementitous mixture, e.g. 5-9 vol % air, when added to a cementitious formulation. Generally, air entrainment agents are surfactants (i.e. they reduce the surface tension when added to aqueous mixtures), and are often materials considered to be soaps.

The mode of action of air entrainment agents, and the mechanism of air void formation in cementitious mixtures are only poorly understood. Because of their influence on the surface tension of the solution phase, the surfactant molecules are believed to facilitate the formation of small air cavities or voids in the cementitious paste, by analogy to formation of air ‘bubbles’. It is also believed that the wall of these voids are further stabilized through various effects, such as incorporation into the interfacial paste/air layer of insoluble calcium salts of the surfactants, or of colloidal particles (see References 1-3 at the end of this description).

The performance of surfactants as concrete air entrainment admixture depends on the composition of the surfactant: the type of hydrophilic group (cationic, anionic, zwitterionic, or non-ionic), the importance of its hydrophobic residue (number of carbon groups, molecular weight), the chemical nature of this residue (aliphatic, aromatic) and the structure of the residue (linear, branched, cyclic), and on the balance between the hydrophilic and lipophilic portions of the surfactant molecule (HLB). Cationic and non-ionic surfactants were reported to entrain more air than anionic surfactants because the latter are often precipitated as insoluble calcium salts in the paste solution; however, the stability of the air void has also been reported to be greater with anionic surfactant than with cationic or non-ionic surfactants. Typical examples of compounds used as surface active agents are sodium salts of naturally occurring fatty acid such as tall oil fatty acid, and sodium salts of synthetic n-alkylbenzene sulfonic acid. As noted in Reference 2 at the end of this description, common concrete air entrainment (or air-entraining) agents include those derived from the following anionic surfactants: neutralized wood resins, fatty acids salts, alkyl-aryl sulfonates, alkyl sulfates.

The term “sacrificial agent” (SA) means a material, or a mixture of materials, that preferentially interacts with (and/or neutralizes the detrimental effects of) components of fly ash that would otherwise interact with an air entrainment agent and reduce the effectiveness of the air entrainment agent to incorporate air (or other gas) into the cementitious mixture. The sacrificial agents, need not be ‘surfactants’ nor ‘air entrainment agents’ and, in the amounts used in the cementitious mixture, must not themselves act to entrain more than nominally 2 vol % additional air (more desirably less than 1 vol % additional air) into a similar control mixture containing no fly ash. Preferably, the sacrificial agent, in the amounts employed in fly ash-containing mixtures, is responsible for introducing substantially no air into a similar control mixture containing no fly ash. The sacrificial agent should also preferably not reduce the ability of the air entrainment agent to incorporate air (i.e. they should preferably not have a “defoaming” effect). Ideally, the sacrificial agent should preferably neither promote nor inhibit the functioning of the air entrainment agent compared with its functioning in a similar mixture containing no fly ash.

The term “cementitious mixture” means a mixture such as concrete mix, mortar, paste, grout, etc., that is still in castable form and that, upon setting, develops into a hardened mass suitable for building and construction purposes. Likewise, the term “cement” means a product (other than fly ash) that is capable of acting as the principal hardenable ingredient in a cementitious mixture. The preferred cement is, of course, portland cement, but at least a portion may include blast furnace slag, gypsum, etc.

The term “second protocol rating” means a rating awarded to a compound according to the procedure set out later in this description under the heading “SECOND PROTOCOL TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SACRIFICIAL AGENTS”.

The term “percent” or “%” as used herein in connection with a component of a composition means percent by weight based on the cementitious components (cement powder and fly ash) of a cementitious mixture (unless otherwise stated). When referring to air content, the term % means percent by volume or vol %.

Abbreviations

Sacrificial agents Benzylamine BA Sodium isopropyl benzene sulfonate Cumene Sodium di-butyl naphthalene sulfonate DBNS Di-ethylene glycol butyl ether Di-EGBE Di-propylene glycol methyl ether Di-PGME Ethylene glycol methyl ether EGME Ethylene glycol phenyl ether EGPE 1-Naphthoic acid sodium salt NA Sodium Di-isopropopyl naphthalene sulfonate ND Sodium 2-Naphthalene sulfonate NS Polyethylene glycol (Molecular weight = 200) PEG 200 Polyethylene glycol (Molecular weight = PEG 1500 1500) 1-Phenyl 2-propylene glycol 1-Phe 2-Pro Other Fly Ash FA portland cement A PCA portland cement C PCC Sacrificial agent SA Commercial air entrainment agents e.g. Air 30 and Air 40 Air entrainment agents or admixtures AEA relative to cementitious materials (CM) wt % Amount of air entrained vol % Average of Air Entrained Aver (%) Relative Standard Deviation RSD (%) DDBS Sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate HLB Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance K_(ow) Ratio of solubility in oil (octanol) and in water LogK_(ow) Logorithm of K_(ow) LOI Loss on ignition

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a chart based on the results shown in Table 13 below which illustrates how the addition of the sacrificial agent EGPE changes the air entrainment in mortars with and without fly ash. Each group of 3 bars shows air entrained with: first 0.005% Air 40 only; second 0.005% Air 40 plus 0.05% EGPE and third 0.005% Air 40 plus 0.1% EGPE. The bars identified ‘PCA’ refer to results obtained in control mortars containing 0.004% Air 40 and no fly ash.

FIG. 2 is a graph based in the results shown in Table 17 below. The graph shows the amount of air entrained in concrete containing no fly ash, a conventional air entrainment agent (Air 40) and increasing amounts of a sacrificial agent according to the present invention (EGPE). Trace A shows the results for mixtures containing 0.006% Air 40 and Trace B shows the results for mixtures containing 0.003% Air 40. The horizontal shaded bar illustrates the range of typical EGPE dosages.

FIG. 3 is a graph based on the results shown in Table 26 which illustrate the influence of increasing dosages of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate (ND) on air entrainment in concrete containing 75% PCA cement and 25% B1 fly ash (4.7% LOI) and Air 40 at 0.008 wt %, and EGPE at 0.05% (curve A) or 0.035% (curve B). The upper line refers to concrete containing Air 40 at 0.008 wt %, but no fly ash and no sacrificial agents. The lower line refers to concrete containing 25% B1 fly ash (4.7% LOI), Air 40 at 0.008 wt % and no sacrificial agents.

FIG. 4 is a graph based on the results shown in Table 28 below which illustrate the influence of increasing dosages of ethylene glycol phenyl ether (EGPE) on air entrainment in concrete containing 75% PCC cement and 25% H2 fly ash (3.6% LOI (curve A) and 4.9% LOI (curve B)), Air 40 at 0.005 wt %, and sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate at 0.0016 wt %. The upper line refers to concrete containing Air 40 at 0.005 wt %, but no fly ash and no sacrificial agents.

FIG. 5 is a graph based on the results shown in Table 29 below which illustrate the influence of increasing dosages of a 1:3 mixture of ND:EGPE on air entrainment in concrete containing 75% PCC cement and 25% B1 fly ash (2.1% LOI (curve A), 4.7% LOI (curve B) and 5.7% LOI (curve C)) and Air 40 at 0.012 wt %. The upper line refers to concrete containing Air 40 at 0.012 wt %, but no fly ash and no sacrificial agents.

FIG. 6 is a graph based on the results shown in Table 30 below which illustrate the influence of increasing dosages of a 1:3 mixture of ND:EGPE on air entrainment in concrete containing 75% PCC cement and 25% E1 fly ash (1.3% LOI (curve A) and 2.3% LOI (curve B)) and Air 40 at 0.005 wt %. The upper line refers to concrete containing Air 40 at 0.005 wt %, but no fly ash and no sacrificial agents.

FIG. 7 is a graph based on the results shown in Table 31 below which illustrate the influence of increasing dosages of a 1:3 mixture of ND:EGPE on air entrainment in concrete containing 75% PCC cement and 25% C1 fly ash (0.62% LOI) and Air 40 at 0.003 wt %. The upper line refers to concrete containing Air 40 at 0.003 wt %, but no fly ash and no sacrificial agents.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show that, in all cases tested, the air entrained in fly ash concrete is severely reduced when the fly ash has significant loss on ignition (LOI) values. However, the level of reduction is not always related to the LOI values of the fly ash. Using the air entrainment agents in conjunction with the sacrificial agents of the invention (e.g. a combination of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate/ethylene glycol phenyl ether) at increasing dosage, the air entrained is enhanced to acceptable levels. When the sacrificial agent is added at excessive dosages, the air entrained levels-off at desirable practical values.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of paste air results obtained by a protocol for assessment of the relative performance of candidate sacrificial agents, as described below. The entries identifying the various values are shown in abbreviated form (all dosages are expressed as wt % of cementitious materials). The abbreviation are explained as follows:

-   -   AEA (PC): air entrainment agent at fixed dosage (DDBS, 0.0125%)         in a Portland cement paste     -   AEA (FA-PC): air entrainment agent at fixed dosage (DDBS, 0.0125         wt %) in a −50:50 fly ash:Portland cement paste     -   0.1% SA (PC): air entrainment by SA at 0.1% dosage in the         Portland cement paste     -   AEA+0.05% SA (FA-PC): air entrainment agent at fixed dosage         (DDBS, 0.0125%) plus candidate SA at 0.05% in a 50:50 fly         ash:Portland cement paste     -   AEA+0.1% SA (FA-PC): air entrainment agent at fixed dosage         (DDBS, 0.0125%) plus candidate SA at 0.1% in a 50:50 fly         ash:Portland cement paste.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing sacrificial agent performance expressed as percentage air entrainment recovery (Delta AE) in fly ash-cement pastes (item F of FIG. 8). This data was calculated from the information in Column 4 of Table 36 below. The data is for various aliphatic alcohols and compares Delta AE with values of LogK_(ow) and HLB values for these compounds.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing sacrificial agent performance expressed as percentage air entrainment recovery (Delta AE) in fly ash-cement pastes (item F of FIG. 8). This data was calculated from the information in Column 4 of Table 36 below. The data is for various ethers and compares Delta AE with values of LogK_(ow) and HLB values for these compounds.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing air entrainment recovery (Delta AE) for various alcohols in fly ash-cement pastes as a function of LogK_(ow) values of the alcohols.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing air entrainment recovery (Delta AE) for various glycol ethers in fly ash-cement pastes as a function of LogK_(ow) values of the glycol ethers.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing air entrainment recovery (Delta AE) for all chemicals tested in fly ash-cement pastes, plotted against their LogK_(ow) values.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing air entrainment recovery (Delta AE) for all chemicals tested in fly ash-cement pastes, plotted against their HLB values.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing a number of candidate sacrificial agents having high ratings (ratings of 3 or 4) over the LogK_(ow) scale in consecutive ranges of 0.5 Log units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, reference is made to air entrainment in concrete and cementitious mixtures. It will be realized by persons skilled in the art that other inert gases, such as nitrogen, that act in the same way as air, can be entrained in concrete and cementitious mixtures. The use of air rather than other gases is naturally most frequently carried out for reasons of simplicity and economy. Techniques for entraining air in cementitious mixtures using air-entraining agents are well known to persons skilled in the art. Generally, when an air entrainment agent is used, sufficient air is entrained when the ingredients of the mixture are simply mixed together and agitated in conventional ways, such as stirring or tumbling sufficient to cause thorough mixing of the ingredients.

As noted earlier, air entrainment problems in fly ash concrete have been traced to undesirable components contained in the fly ash materials, particularly residual carbon. These fly ash components can adsorb and/or react or interact with the air entrainment agent (surface active compounds, e.g. soaps) used for entrainment air in concrete, thereby neutralizing or diminishing the functionality of such agents and consequently reducing the uptake of air. Up to the present, the industrial approach to dealing with these air entrainment problems consisted in adding higher dosages of the air entrainment agents in order to overwhelm the deleterious processes. Because the quantities of detrimental components in fly ash can vary greatly among fly ashes from different sources, or for a fly ash from any particular source at different times, the current practices lead to other complications, namely in assessing the adequate dosage of air entrainment agents to achieve a specified air content, in maintaining the specified air content over adequate time periods, in guarding against excessive entrained air contents that would detrimentally impact concrete strength and durability, in obtaining specified air void parameters, etc. In particular, the fact that excessive dosages of the air entrainment agent can result in excess air entrainment and subsequent reduction in concrete compressive strength, is particularly serious and a major disadvantage of the prior approach.

To address the above problems, the inventors of the present invention developed the concept of using a different class of material (i.e. something other than an air entrainment agent) to neutralize or eliminate the effect of the harmful components of fly ash on the air entrainment agent. The inventors surmised that such a material would have to act preferentially (i.e. when present at the same time as the air entrainment agent, or even after the contact of the air entrainment agent with the fly ash, they would interact with the fly ash), and that they would not themselves act to entrain air in significant amounts or to harm the setting action or properties of the cementitious material in the amounts employed. The inventors have now found certain classes of chemical compounds (additives) capable of “neutralizing” the detrimental fly ash components, while having little or no influence on the air entrainment process provided by conventional air entrainment agents and having no adverse effects on the properties of the concrete mix and hardened concrete product. Such chemical additives, referred to herein as “sacrificial agents”, introduced into the mixture at an appropriate time, render fly ash concrete comparable to normal concrete with respect to air entrainment. The finding of economically viable chemical additives of this type, as well as practical processes for their introduction into concrete systems, constitutes a major advantage for fly ash concrete technologies.

In order to confirm this approach to the problem and to identify suitable additives, the inventors designed a broad research program to investigate the origins of air entrainment problems in fly ash concrete, and chemical solutions to alleviate these problems. The program comprised a broad base study on pastes, mortars and concrete containing cement only and fly ash-cement mixes, with various fly ashes exhibiting a wide range of carbon contents (represented by loss-on-ignition—LOI) values and physico-chemical properties. Extensive testing was carried out on air entrainment in fly ash concrete under standard industrial practices; the work included studies on the impact of candidate sacrificial agents, on the properties of fresh and hardened concrete, and investigations of possible interactions between these agents and other common chemical additives (admixtures) used in concrete technology. The experimental protocols and key results of this program are presented below and the same protocols may be employed to identify further sacrificial agents suitable for use in the present invention, as detailed more specifically in following sections.

For practical reasons, namely effectiveness, solubility in mixed formulations of sacrificial agents and cost, it has been found that the following classes of compounds are the most suitable, namely: alcohols, glycol ethers, polyglycols, aromatic sulfonates, esters and alcoholamines, alkyl carboxylates, and also aromatic compounds bearing sulfonate groups, carboxylate groups, amino groups or combinations of such groups, and low molecular weight glycols and glycol derivates (i.e. those having molecular weights of 2000 Da or less, preferably 1500 Da or less), and combinations of such compounds. By testing a variety of compounds as potential sacrificial agents, it has been discovered that the following compounds, in particular, are effective as sacrificial agents to varying degrees: benzylamine, sodium 1-naphthoate, sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate, sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, sodium di-butyl naphthalene sulfonate, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, butoxyethanol, di-ethylene glycol butyl ether, di-propylene glycol methyl ether, polyethylene glycol and 1-phenyl 2-propylene glycol. All of these compounds, and others mentioned later in this description, are known and commercially available from suppliers of organic chemical (e.g. from Aldrich, Rutgers, Stepan, Anachemia, Baker, BDH, Eastman, Fisher, Mallinckodt, Polysciences, Pfaltz & Bauer, TCI, etc., all of which are well known suppliers of chemicals to persons in this field of art). They are preferably used in pure or substantially pure form.

It has been found that these compounds may be used alone or in any combination. However, specific combinations are particularly effective and synergistic effects may occur with certain combinations. A particularly effective combination of sacrificial agents is ethylene glycol phenyl ether and sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate. When combinations of sacrificial agents are employed, they may be used in any relative proportion, but the total amount employed most preferably falls within the range of 0.01 to 0.5 wt % of the cementitious components of the mixture, and more preferably 0.01 to 0.2 wt %. Because of the surfactant properties and high effectiveness of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate, it is preferable to keep the amount low and to use another sacrificial agent, e.g. ethylene glycol phenyl ether, to achieve an optimum activity against the harmful components of the fly ash without causing air entrainment. In such cases, the dosage of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate relative to ethylene glycol phenyl ether is preferably within the range of 1:20 to 1:2, respectively, by weight. In some cases, it may be advantageous to mix a sacrificial agent having different HLB values (e.g. high and low values) to produce a combined sacrificial agent mixture that is approximately neutral in its effect on the entrainment of air in the mixture. In this way, it may be possible to use highly active sacrificial agents that would otherwise interfere too much with the entrainment of air.

The amounts of such sacrificial agents should be sufficient to preferentially neutralize the harmful components of the fly ash that adsorb or react with the air entrainment agents. The required minimum dosage may be determined experimentally through air entrainment protocols since, as discussed earlier and shown below, the deleterious effects of fly ash components are not directly related to their carbon content or LOI. However, it is a particular advantage of the present invention that the sacrificial agents may be used in reasonable excess over the neutralizing amounts without entrainment of excess air (or reduction of such entrainment) or harming the concrete mixture or the subsequent setting action or properties of the hardened concrete. This means that an amount can be determined which exceeds the neutralizing amount required for a fly ash containing the highest amount of the harmful components likely to be encountered, and this amount can then be safely used with any fly ash cement mixture. Typically, as noted above, the minimum amount of sacrificial agent employed is usually about 0.01% by weight of total cementitious materials (cement and fly ash).

The sacrificial agents of the present invention may be added at any time during the preparation of the concrete mix, but are preferably added before or at the same time as the air entrainment agents so that they may interact with the fly ash before the air entrainment agents have an opportunity to do so. The mixing in this way may be carried out at ambient temperature, or at elevated or reduced temperatures if such temperatures are otherwise required for particular concrete mixes. The sacrificial agents may also be premixed with the fly ash or with the air entrainment agent.

It is particularly convenient to premix the sacrificial agent with the fly ash because the sacrificial agent may commence the interaction with the harmful components of the fly ash even before the cementitious mixture is formed. The sacrificial agent may simply be sprayed or otherwise added in liquid form onto a conventional fly ash and left to be absorbed by the fly ash and thus to dry. If necessary, the sacrificial agent may be dissolved in a volatile solvent to facilitate the spraying procedure. Fly ash treated in this way may be prepared and sold as an ingredient for forming fly ash cement and fly ash concrete.

Surprisingly, it has also been found that the sacrificial agent is even effective when added after the mixing of the other components of the cementitious mixture (including the air entrainment agent). The inventors cannot explain this observation but it appears that the sacrificial agent may reverse any preliminary deactivation of the air entrainment agent caused by contact with the fly ash, and thus reactivate the air entrainment agent for further air entrainment. It is observed, however, that the beneficial effect of the sacrificial agents is somewhat lower when added at this stage rather than when added before or during the mixing of the other components.

As noted above, an important feature of the present invention is that the chemical additives used as sacrificial agents are not required to be effective air entrainment agents in the amounts employed, so that they do not contribute directly to air entrainment and can thus also be used in normal concrete containing no fly ash. This confers on the sacrificial agents the particularly important feature that these sacrificial agents can be introduced at dosages higher than the minimum dosage required to restore normal air entrainment without leading to erratic air entrainment and excessive air entrained levels. If one of the sacrificial agents used in a combination of sacrificial agents exhibits some surfactant (air entrainment) properties, it should preferably be proportioned in such a way that the combination of sacrificial agents will entrain less than 2% air (more preferably less than 1% air, and ideally substantially no air), above the control values, in normal concrete without any fly ash. That is to say, when a concrete formulation is produced without fly ash, but with an air entrainment agent, the extra amount of air entrained when a sacrificial agent is added represents the extra air entrained by the sacrificial agent. The amount of air entrained in a cementitious mixture can be measured by determination of specific gravity of the mixture, or other methods prescribed in ASTM procedures (ASTM C231, C173, C138—the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference).

Typical concrete air entrainment agents are n-dodecylbenzene sulfonate salts (referred to as Air 30) and tall oil fatty acid salts (referred to as Air 40). The typical dosage range of these ingredients in portland cement concrete mixes is 0.002 to 0.008 wt % of the cementitious components, resulting in the entrainment of 6-8 vol % air.

Other essential components of the cementitous mixtures of the present invention are water, cement and fly ash. These may be used in proportions that depend on the type of material desired (e.g., pastes, grouts, mortars, concrete) and on the required fresh and hardened properties of the finished material. Such systems and their composition, as well as equipment and protocols for their preparation, are well known in the art; for mortars and concrete, these are adequately described in standard reference texts, such as ASTM Cement and Concrete (e.g., 4.01, 4.02); Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures—Portland Cement Association; and American Concrete Institute—Manual of Concrete Practice (the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference). For pastes, the composition and preparation equipment and protocols will be described in detail in following sections. In practice, the content of various ingredients in a cementitious mixture are often reported as weight ratios with respect to the cement or to the total cementitious materials when other cementitious materials such as fly ash, slag, etc., are present. These ratios are well known to persons skilled in the art.

Once formed, the cementitious mixture of the present invention may be used in any conventional way, e.g. poured into a form and allowed to harden and set. The hardened product will contain fly ash and entrained air, but no excess of air entrainment agent that could adversely affect the air content and properties of the hardened product.

The cementitious mixtures of the invention may include other standard or specialized concrete ingredients know to persons skilled in the art.

First Protocol to Identify Additional Sacrificial Agents

While the present disclosure mentions several classes of sacrificial agents, as well as several individual compounds, that are effective in the present invention, other compounds and classes of compounds may also be effective. To enable ready identification of such compounds and classes of compounds, the following protocol has been developed.

-   -   1. Determine the solubility of the candidate chemical in         cementitious systems (alkaline fly ash slurries, or fly ash         cement pastes), containing different fly ashes having various         levels of the deleterious components, according to the methods         described in Example 1 below; under conditions such as those         pertaining to the data in Table 5 below. Chemicals with         potential value as sacrificial agents should be partly soluble         so that they can retain their inherent activity.     -   2. Determine the level of interaction/reaction between the         candidate sacrificial agent with the deleterious components of         the fly ash, particularly the carbon, again under conditions         pertaining to the data in Table 5 below. Potentially valuable         candidates will show partial adsorption onto the fly ash which         contain deleterious components towards air entrainment.     -   3. Under conditions pertaining to the data for Tables 6-11         below:         -   Evaluate the level of air entrainment by the candidate in             portland cement paste; preferably the candidate should             entrain low levels of air by itself (as in Table 6 below).         -   Determine if the candidate sacrificial agent has             interactions (interference or synergy) with typical concrete             air entrainment admixtures in portland cement pastes (as in             Table 8 below)     -   4. Suitable candidates will show little or nor air entrainment         by themselves and little interference on the function and         performance of the conventional air entrainment admixture.     -   5. Determine how effective the candidate sacrificial agent may         be at reducing variability in air entrainment by a conventional         AEA in fly ash—cement pastes; under conditions pertaining to the         data in Tables 7-11 below, evaluate paste air entrainment in         pastes containing a variety of fly ash having a wide range of         properties and residual carbon. Valuable candidate SA will show         both, increased air entrainment in more ‘difficult’ mixtures and         a substantial reduction in the variability of the air entrained         in the different fly ash-cement pastes (at constant fluidity);         typically the relative standard deviation on entrained air         values within the set of pastes should be reduced by 50% or         more.     -   6. Under conditions pertaining to data in Tables 8-11 below,         investigate potential synergy between the candidate SA and other         known SA's and conventional air entrainment admixtures. Such         synergy will be manifested by higher air contents in the most         difficult systems and a further reduction in the variability of         air entrainment among mixtures containing different fly ash.     -   7. Promising candidates must then be tested and confirmed in fly         ash mortars and/or concrete under conditions such as those         described for the data in Tables 14-35 below. Useful SA will         exhibit the following features:         -   enable adequate levels (typically 5-8 vol %) of air to be             entrained in concrete or other cementitious products, with             dosages of conventional air entrainment agents that are             typical of those required when no fly ash, or fly ash with             low carbon content, is used;         -   entrain predictable air levels into fly ash-concrete             regardless of the variability in the fly ash material, such             as the source, carbon content, chemical composition;         -   exhibit no interference with cement hydration and concrete             set time;         -   induce no significant changes to other physical and             durability properties of concrete;         -   are not significantly affected by the presence of other             concrete chemical admixtures, for example, water reducers,             superplasticizers and set accelerators; and cause no             detrimental effects when added in excessive dosages, such as             excessive air contents, extended set times, or strength             reduction.

Second Protocol to Identify Additional Sacrificial Agents

While the first protocol described above yields reliable evaluations of the relative merit of various groups of sacrificial agents, and has produced the results shown in Examples 1 to 31 below, the protocol is very labour intensive, time- and material-consuming. To alleviate these problems, a second testing protocol has been devised, based upon the results already collected in Examples 1 to 31.

In order to rapidly screen a large number of potential candidates for use as fly ash concrete sacrificial agents, a second protocol has been devised using the paste air measurement equipment and procedure described later in this description, in the section entitled “Examples relating to Air entrainment in cement or FA:cement pastes—Maximum air protocol”. This second protocol was designed to test the usefulness of a candidate sacrificial agent (SA) through a minimum number of paste air measurements, comprising, typically, the following air entrainment (AE) measurements, using a reference concrete air entrainment agent (AEA):

-   -   AE by SA in a portland cement paste     -   AE by a standard AEA in a portland cement paste     -   AE by a standard AEA in a FA-cement paste     -   AE by a standard AEA in FA-cement paste at two SA dosages

Description of Second Sacrificial Agent Testing Protocol

The second sacrificial agents evaluation protocol has been designed to assess the relative potential value of candidate sacrificial agents with a maximum of five paste air measurements.

The first two measurements (of entrained air) are carried out with a standard AEA in a portland cement paste and in a FA:cement paste; these two tests provide reference values which can be used for the relative assessment of a series of sacrificial agents. The other three paste air measurements pertain to the properties and effectiveness of the sacrificial agents. Hence, once the reference AEA values are determined, the potential merit of a candidate SA can be assessed from only three paste air measurements.

Details of the systems and procedures used are given below, the results of which are illustrated schematically in FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings.

Reference AE Measurements in Cement and FA:Cement Pastes

1. Measurement of the air entrained by a standard air-entraining admixture in a cement paste of fixed composition and fluidity; the latter is a reference system which provides ‘reference’ air entrainment values (‘A’ in FIG. 8). For this reference system the following conditions were adopted (such conditions can be optimized to best suit the particular materials and AEA admixture used):

-   -   Water: approx 200 g (adjusted to achieve fixed fluidity as given         below)     -   Cement (A): 400 g     -   Ratio w/c: 0.43 to 0.44     -   Air entrainment agent: Sodium Dodecylbenzene sulfonate (DDBS)     -   Air entrainment agent concentration: 0.0125 wt % (cementitious)     -   Paste fluidity: adjusted to yield mini-slump spread diameter         (see later) of 105±5 mm

2. Measurement of the air entrained in a 50:50 FA:cement paste by DDBS at the same dosage and under the same condition as given in 1 above; the observed AE value will serve as a second reference value throughout the series of tests, and it is illustrated as ‘B’ in FIG. 8. The difference between ‘B’ and ‘A’ in FIG. 8 is the reduction in air entrainment due to the presence of the fly ash; this is illustrated as ‘C’ in FIG. 8.

In the present SA testing and evaluation protocol, the fly ash selected should remain the same for the entire set of additives tested, in order to provide reliable relative performance ranking. For the present series of test, the Fly Ash selected was the one identified as B1 in Table 1 below; the physico-chemical properties of this fly ash are reported in Table 1.

AE Measurements to Assess Performance of Sacrificial Agents

In testing for the relative performance of the sacrificial agent, the sacrificial agent dosage was chosen in the range 0-0.1 wt %, which corresponds to typical dosage values observed in paste, mortar and concrete tests reported in Tables 2, 3 and 4 and Tables 7 to 34.

Also, in the concentration range in which they are used, SA should not interfere markedly with the performance of AE admixtures; hence the air entrainment by SA alone in cement pastes should also be measured at their maximum expected practical dosage. For most sacrificial agents of the present invention, the maximum practical dosage will be of the order of 0.2% by weight of cementitious material, and most typically 0.1% by wt cementitious; for sacrificial agents which exhibit some concrete air entrainment by themselves, the maximum dosage may be limited to lower values.

The following paste air entrainment measurements will then enable a primary assessment of SA candidate

3. Measurement of the air entrainment of the SA, by itself, in a cement-only paste at a dosage of 0.1 wt %; this is illustrated as ‘D’ in FIG. 8.

4. Measurement of the air entrained by DDBS in the FA-cement paste comprising 0.05% wt SA, under the same conditions as described in 2 above. The air entrainment value observed in this system, compared to that observed in the absence of the SA, yields the air recovery due to the SA, and is illustrated schematically as ‘E’ in FIG. 8.

5. Same as in 4 above, but with a higher SA concentration at 0.1 wt %; the air entrainment observed, again compared to the value observed in the absence of the SA, yields a second value of air recovery by the SA and is illustrated as ‘F’ in FIG. 8.

While it is preferable to carry out both of steps 4 and 5, a single step can be carried out at a single concentration of SA (e.g. 0.1 wt %) if required to simplify the procedure.

As noted above, this second testing protocol will provide a relative assessment of the potential of a series of compounds, all tested under the specified set of conditions, using the specified materials, equipment and protocols throughout the series of test. For example, changes in the cement source, the fly ash used, the air entrainment agent type and concentration may alter the tests results, as was shown using the first testing protocol described earlier (see results in Tables 7 to 34 of Examples below). However, compounds found effective in this protocol should also be effective in other conditions, although the level of effectiveness may change. Conversely, compounds found ineffective according to this protocol should be ineffective in other conditions.

Required Properties of Sacrificial Agents and Selection Criteria for Candidate Products Properties of Ideal Sacrificial Agent

The properties of an ideal sacrificial agent (SA) for air entrainment in fly ash concrete are readily identified from specific requirements of the application (as outlined in the first protocol). From a performance standpoint, the ideal sacrificial agent should exhibit:

-   -   Minimum air entrainment by itself, in cementitious systems, at         the normal application dosage.     -   Full recovery of the air entrainment reduction due to fly ash         carbon.     -   Minimal influence of SA overdosage, within a reasonable range,         on air entrainment; this allows voluntary overdosage to         compensate for variation in the fly ash carbon or other         properties;     -   Minimal influence on air void parameters (air void average size,         distribution, average spacing).     -   Minimal influence of the SA, at its normal dosage, on other         concrete properties, e.g., setting time, slump, slump loss as         function of time, bleeding and segregation.

Other desirable (but secondary) properties, which may also be considered for a large scale application include:

-   -   Significant solubility in water, or in liquid formulations     -   Low vapour pressure so that the SA is not lost significantly to         evaporation before use     -   Minimum deleterious effects with respect to human health and         environment (i.e. it is preferable to use SAs that are known to         be safe compounds)     -   Low cost.

Selection Criteria for Sacrificial Agents

For the purpose of rating the relative performance of various SA, initially neglecting considerations on ‘other desirable properties’ as outlined above, two types of criteria can be used:

-   -   Qualitative rejection criteria and     -   Quantitative performance criteria

Qualitative Rejection Criteria

The following conditions would preclude the use of a particular SA:

-   -   The candidate SA has either a non significant effect, a nil         effect, or a negative effect, i.e., de-foaming effect.     -   The candidate SA entrains an excessive amount of air, by itself,         at the dosage of its intended usage.

Any SA candidate rejected under these two criteria could potentially be used in conjunction with other SA candidate to achieve the quantitative performance criteria described below. The general principle allowing such product combinations will be outlined below in the Section entitled: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PERFORMANCE OF SACRIFICIAL AGENTS AND THEIR MOLECULAR PARAMETERS.

Quantitative Performance Criteria and Rating

The candidate sacrificial agents tested were rated according to the level of air entrainment recovery they exhibit, through the paste air testing protocol described above. For the relative performance rating of the group of products chosen as potential SA and listed in Table 36, the following rating scheme (Tables A and B) was adopted (referring to FIG. 8 and quantities defined therein):

TABLE A AE recovery to cement Col. 1 Col. 2 paste value Recovery by 0.05% SA Recovery by 0.1% SA (C in FIG. 8) (E in FIG. 8) (F in FIG. 8)   <50% of C Rating 0 Rating 0 50-100% of C Rating 1 Rating 1   >100% of C Rating 2 Rating 2

TABLE B Overall performance rating: Sum of ratings from air entrainment recovery values (col. 1 and col. 2 in Table above) Rating Overall performance 0 Fail 1 Poor 2 Good 3 Preferred 4 Most preferred

Using this rating scheme, the potential value of each candidate SA is thus rated with a single-digit number ranging between 0 and 4. Examining the ratings attributed to the various chemicals tested (Table 36, col. 5), it is readily seen that valuable sacrificial agents with high ratings (e.g., 3 or 4) are found in many families of chemical compounds, namely: alcohols, glycol ethers, carboxylic acids, aromatic sulfonates, esters, amines, alcohol amines, amides, quaternary ammonium salts and polyglycols. For the entire group of 104 compounds tested, the following breakdown is observed:

Listed below are the different groups of compounds according to their ratings—best: 4, worst: 1; all acid compounds were tested in the form of sodium salts:

-   -   Rating 1 (13 compounds): n-Propanol, i-Propanol, Hexanol,         Sorbitol, Ethylene Glycol Methyl Ether, Methyllaurate,         Ethylcaproate, Phenyl acetic acid, 2-Naphthoic acid,         2-(2-Aminoethoxy)ethanol, tri-Ethylene Glycol, 2-Butanone         (Methyl ethyl ketone), n-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone.     -   Rating 2 (11 compounds): Glycerol, p-Dimethoxybenzene,         Methyloctanoate, Methylpalmitate, Methyloleate, Ethylene glycol         mono-ethyl ether acetate, Aniline, Urea, Dimethylurea, Methyl         isobutylketone, Butyraldehyde.     -   Rating 3 (15 compounds): 1-Pentanol, Neopentanol, Benzyl         alcohol, Phenyl ethyl alcohol, Ethylpropionate, Ethylbutyrate,         4-Ethyl benzene sulfonic acid, 2-Naphthalenesulfonate Na,         p-Toluene Sulfonic acid, Benzyl amine, Di-isopropanolamine,         Tetrapropyl ammonium hydroxide, Tetrabutyl ammonium chloride,         Polyethylene glycol 200, 1-Ethyl-2-Pyrrolidinone.     -   Rating 4 (25 compounds)     -   1-Butanol, 2-Butanol, t-Butanol, 3-Pentanol, Ethylene Glycol         Ethyl Ether, Ethylene Glycol n-Propyl Ether, Ethylene Glycol         n-Butyl Ether, Ethylene Glycol iso-Butyl Ether, Ethylene Glycol         Phenyl Ether, Propylene Glycol Phenyl Ether, di-Propylene Glycol         mono Methyl Ether, di-Ethylene Glycol Butyl Ether, Ethylene         Glycol di-Methyl Ether, Hexanoic acid, Tween® (POE (20) Sorbitan         monolaurate), Methylnaphthalene sulfonate Na, Triethylamine,         n-butyl amine, Tri-iso-propanolamine, n-butyl urea, Polyethylene         glycol 400, Polyethylene glycol 2000, tri-Propylene glycol,         Polypropylene glycol 425, P(EG-ran-propylene-glycol) 2500.

It is to be noted that compounds rated ‘zero’ are considered unacceptable for use as single SAs, but could be used in mixtures with other compounds rated higher to produce a combined sacrificial agent that is effective in the invention. Also, while SAs should themselves entrain less than 2 vol % air (Volume D of FIG. 8), candidate compounds for which Volume D is greater than 2 vol % may be considered (if Volume E and/or F is sufficiently high) for use in combination with other compounds for which Volume D is lower, thereby providing an average volume of air entrainment due to the sacrificial agent of less than 2 vol %.

Compounds found effective according to the second protocol may be subjected to an abbreviated version of the first protocol to determine the most preferred compounds and effective dosages, etc.

Relationship Between the Performance of Sacrificial Agents and Their Molecular Parameters

As noted above, valuable SA were found in many functional classes of chemical compounds. This finding indicates that the specific nature of the functional group of the SA is perhaps not the prevailing (or only) factor in determining the performance of a SA. Without wishing to be bound to any particular theory, based upon the assumed mode of action of SA in fly ash concrete, i.e., competitive adsorption of the SA and AEA, a second molecular feature which may be important, is their ‘hydrophobic character’. This particular feature of chemical compounds is quantitatively defined by their ‘Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance’ (HLB) rating, or their oil/water (or octanol/water) partition coefficients (K_(OW)).

The HLB Scale

The HLB concept and its application in colloid chemistry are described in References 4 and 5 listed at the end of this specification (the disclosures of which references are incorporated herein by reference), and may be understood as follows. A given molecule, comprising a hydrophilic (water-soluble) group and a lipophilic (hydrophobic) moiety, will exhibit an overall character which depends on the relative magnitude of its hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups. The HLB scale provides a measure of this mixed character; the HLB scale typically varies between 0 and 20, the more hydrophilic the molecule, the higher the HLB value.

The HLB was initially designed to characterize the relative ability of surfactants to emulsify oil in water, or vice-versa (Reference 6). Typically, the HLB value of a non-ionic surfactant could be estimated as the weight fraction of the hydrophilic portion of the surfactant molecule, divided by 5 to yield a smaller, more convenient range of HLB numbers. References 5 and 6 show how to determine HLB values experimentally; for non-ionic polyol ester surfactants, the experimental HLB value is obtained as:

HLB=20 (1−S/A) where S is the saponification number of the ester, and A is the acid number of the recovered acid.

While the HLB procedure was designed for surfactants, it was later extended to other organic molecules. This was achieved by assigning HLB values to different fragments and functional groups of surfactant molecules, based on experimental data for families of surfactants. The different ‘group contributions’ could then be used to calculate HLB values for other molecules comprising the same groups. This approach is described in general terms in standard textbooks (Reference 7) and is discussed in details by Davies (Reference 8) and McGowan (References 9 and 10); these authors provide tables of HLB group contributions and additivity schemes for calculating molecular HLB values. The calculated HLB values are reasonably accurate for most non-ionic molecules; in some cases, for example, molecules with multiple functional groups, or molecules with an ionic group, the accuracy of the calculated values will be affected (Reference 10). Because of these limitations, several compounds examined here could not be attributed meaningful HLB values.

Example of HLB Calculation:

Using the McGowan HLB group contribution scale (Reference 9), an example of HLB calculation is given below for Ethylene Glycol Phenyl Ether (or Ethanol, 2-phenoxy-, or 2-Phenoxyethanol); formula: C₆H₅OCH₂CH₂OH.

The table of HLB contributions assigned to various functional groups and molecular fragment is presented below (Table C). The fragments which comprise the EGPE molecule are identified in the first column, together with the number of each fragment or group. The calculated HLB is simply the sum of the group contributions listed in the last column. For EGPE, the calculated HLB value is found as 6.239.

TABLE C Scale of HLB contributions assigned to various molecular groups in the McGowan additivity scheme (Reference 9) Number of groups HLB Calculation Hydrophilic groups Empirical HLB 7 7 —OSO3⁻ 12.05 0 —SO3⁻ 12.25 0 —COO⁻ 12.66 0 —COO— ester 2.28 0 —COOH 2.09 0 1 OH (free) 1.12 1.12 1 —O— ether 1.3 1.3 >C═O 0.972 0 —CONH2 1.953 0 —CONH— 2.136 0 —CONH< 2.319 0 —CON(CH3)2 1.003 0 —CH(NH₃ ⁺)COO⁻ 4.28 0 >N+< (quater) 9.4 0 >N− (tertiary) 9.18 0 >NH 8.89 0 —NH2 8.59 0 —N(CH3)2 7.53 0 —N⁺(CH3)3 6.98 0 C5H5N+ (pyrridonium) 6.84 0 Lipophylic groups —CH< −0.295 0 2 —CH2— −0.475 −0.95 —CH3— −0.658 0 —CH═ −0.402 0 >C< −0.109 0 1 Phenyl- −2.231 −2.231 naphthyl- −3.475 0 HLB 6.239 (HLB = Sum of 7 + 1.12 + 1.3 − 0.95 − 2.231 = 6.239)

The Oil/Water (or Octanol/Water) Partition Coefficients K_(OW)

The hydrophobic-hydrophilic character of a molecule is also evidenced by its relative solubility in oil (octanol) and water, i.e. the ratio: solubility in oil (octanol)/solubility in water. This ratio can be measured directly from the equilibrium partitioning of the compound between oil (octanol) and water, and expressed as the equilibrium partition coefficient: K_(OW). Highly hydrophobic compounds, being very oil-soluble, will exhibit high values of K_(OW); conversely, hydrophilic compounds will exhibit low K_(OW) values. For convenience, the values of K_(OW) are reported on a logarithmic scale as logK_(OW). Unlike the HLB scale which best applies to non-ionic surfactant-type molecules, the logK_(OW) classification can include most types of compounds.

Experimental values of K_(OW) are available for a variety of compounds (as disclosed in References 11 to 13 listed at the end of this specification). As with HLB values, the experimental data was used to assigned group contributions to various portions of molecules. From these assigned group values and additivity rules, values of K_(OW) can be calculated for a wide variety of molecule of known composition and structure (as disclosed in References 11 to 13 listed at the end of this specification).

Example of K_(ow) Calculation

The procedure for calculating a K_(OW) value using the K_(ow)Win program available from Reference 11 is illustrated below for Ethylene Glycol Phenyl Ether (EGPE). The KowWin program for predicting LogK_(ow) values can perform its calculation with either of the following inputs: 1—the Chemical Abstract (CAS) Registry number for the molecule of interest, or 2—the structure of the molecule, depicted in the ‘SMILES’ notation, which is explained in the K_(ow)Win program. For EGPE, the following information can be supplied:

Compound: Ethylene Glycol Phenyl Ether (or Ethanol, 2-phenoxy-, or 2-Phenoxyethanol) Chemical formula: C₆H₅OCH₂CH₂OH SMILES structural representation: O(c(cccc1)c1)CCO;

Chemical Abstract Registry Number (CAS): 000122-99-6

The output of the K_(ow)Win program for calculation of the EGPE LogK_(ow) value is reproduced below. The programs lists the various fragments of the molecule, the number of such fragments (Col. 2), the unit contribution to LogK_(ow) for each fragment (Col. 4) and the total contribution from each fragments (Col. 5). The sum of all contributions yields the estimated LogKow as 1.10. The program further provides a comparison with experimental LogK_(ow) values when available; for EGPE, a value reported by Hansch (see table) is given as 1.16, in relatively good agreement with the computed value.

Example of Program Computation Output

K_(ow)Win (LogK_(ow)) Log P Calculation: SMILES: O(c(cccc1)c1)CCO CHEM: Ethanol, 2-phenoxy- MOL FOR: C8H10O2 MOL WT: 138.17 LOGKOW v1.66 FRAGMENT TYPE NUM DESCRIPTION COEFF VALUE Frag 2 —CH2— [aliphatic carbon] 0.4911 0.9822 Frag 1 —OH [hydroxy, aliphatic attach] −1.4086 −1.4086 Frag 6 Aromatic Carbon 0.2940 1.7640 Frag 1 —O— [oxygen, one aromatic attach] −0.4664 −0.4664 Const Equation Constant 0.2290 LogK_(ow) = 1.1002 LogK_(ow) Estimated: 1.10 Experimental Database Structure Match: Name: 2-Phenoxyethanol CAS Registry Number: 000122-99-6 Experimental LogK_(ow): 1.16 Experimental Reference: Hansch, C. et al. (1995) The relationship between the performance of candidate sacrificial agents, expressed as the % air recovery, and the values of K_(OW) (LogK_(OW)) and HLB is illustrated in FIG. 9 for a series of aliphatic alcohols. The data show that the capacity of the different alcohols to enhance air entrainment recovery (Delta AE) in the fly ash-cement paste is optimal in a certain range of HLB and LogK_(OW) values: while the alcohols are displayed in decreasing order of HLB, or increasing order of LogK_(OW), the air enhancement values (Delta AE) exhibit maximum values at intermediate range of HLB or LogK_(OW) values. FIG. 10 illustrates similar data for a series of glycol ethers and, again, maximum values of Delta AE are observed in an intermediate range of HLB or LogK_(OW) values;

The relative performance of broader series of alcohols and glycol ethers are illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 wherein the air recovery (Delta AE) values are plotted against the LogK_(OW) values. In both series of compounds, those with the highest recovery values are found in a relatively narrow range of LogK_(OW) values.

Quantitative Criteria for Ranking of Sacrificial Agents Based on Their Molecular Parameters

The data shown for alcohols and ethers in FIGS. 11 and 12 clearly shows that optimum_air enhancement and recovery is observed for compounds having LogK_(ow) values in the range of −1 to +2. For these two families of chemicals, this range of LogK_(OW) values thus identifies the most valuable sacrificial agents.

The air entrainment recovery values for all of the chemicals tested are illustrated in FIG. 13, plotted as function of LogK_(OW). Although a significant scatter of the data points is observed, in part due to the uncertainty on calculated values as discussed earlier (particularly for ionic compounds, such as aryl sulfonates), an optimum range of LogK_(OW) values is again clearly seen. For the overall group of chemicals, the optimum range of LogK_(OW) values is somewhat broader, extending between −3 and +2; best candidate sacrificial agents are seen in the range of LogK_(OW) values between −2 and +2.

A tentative explanation for the observation of an optimum range of LogK_(OW) values with respect to SA performance may be suggested as follows. SA having low values of LogK_(OW) are too water-soluble, or hydrophilic, to interact effectively with carbon in the fly ash. At the other end, SA having high values of LogK_(OW) are too oil-soluble, or hydrophobic; such compounds, typically aliphatic oils, can interact effectively with fly ash carbon, but they also known to act as de-foamers. Hence, they do not promote, nor assist air entrainment.

A similar plot of air entrainment recovery (Delta AE) for all chemicals tested was also drawn as function of HLB values, as illustrated in FIG. 14. Because of the lack of assigned HLB values to some of the functional groups, a few of the 104 products tested could not be assigned a meaningful HLB value. Values assigned to some of the other compounds, for example, aromatic sulfonates (labelled Aromatic SO₃), and compounds containing the amino group, are probably overestimated (too high). As with the LogK_(OW) values, there appears an optimum range of HLB values for the air recovery achieved with the various compounds tested, extending between 5 and 20.

The identification of potentially valuable sacrificial agents based on their LogK_(OW) values is further confirmed by examining the distribution of product ratings as function of LogK_(OW); this is illustrated in FIG. 15. In the latter, the LogK_(OW) abscissa is separated in ranges of 0.5 Log units; from the data in Table 36, the number of candidate SA which achieved ratings of 3 or 4 in each consecutive 0.5 LogK_(OW) range is plotted as the ordinate. From the distribution illustrated, the ‘best’ SA candidate, i.e., those with ratings of 3 or 4, are seen to cluster in the same LogK_(OW) interval values as identified above: from −2 to +2.

Thus, the HLB and LogKow values can be used to predict the effectiveness of compounds as sacrificial agents in fly ash cementitious mixtures.

The testing protocol and results illustrated in Table 36, and the relationship of these results to HLB and LogKow values illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 pertain to single SA candidates. Since in surfactant science and technology, it is common to blend surfactants of different HLB values to achieve a mixture having an intermediate HLB value (see References 4 to 6 disclosed below), the same approach can be pursued; that is, two or more candidate sacrificial agents with different HLB (or similarly LogKow) values may be combined to achieve a mixed sacrificial agent having HLB, or LogKow, values within the desirable range.

The invention is illustrated in more detain in the following by means of Examples and Comparative Examples provided below. These details should not be used to limit the generality of the present invention.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES

In order to illustrate the problems of using fly ash in cementitious mixtures containing air entrainment additives, a variety of mixtures were prepared using fly ash and cement powder of different origins and different common air entrainment agents, namely a tall oil fatty acid salt (Air 40) and an alkyl aryl sulfonate salt (Air 30). The percentage air entrainment was then measured. The detailed conditions of mixture preparation and measurement techniques and conditions to obtain these results are provided in following sub-sections. Two commercial Type 10 (US Type-1) portland cement powders were employed—hereinafter referred to as PCA and PCC. The different types of fly ash used are shown in Table 1 below, together with the codes by which these materials are identified and the compositions in which these fly ashes were used in subsequent tests. The fly ash used in the different tests procedures, namely pastes, mortars and concrete, are identified in Table 1. For each fly ash used, the weight percentages of loss on ignition are reported, and are indicative of the carbon content of the fly ash. For the FA used in paste air entrainment and other measurements in aqueous slurries described later, the following other properties are also reported:

-   -   Fly ash class: F or C     -   Fly ash type: bituminous, sub-bituminous, lignite, western     -   BET specific surface area: standard BET nitrogen surface area     -   Specific density: determined by standard Le Chatelier flask         using iso-propanol as solvent

TABLE 1 Key physico-chemical properties of the fly ash materials used in various cementitious mixtures. Fly Ash used in Paste FA used in FA BET density Mortar FA used in Concrete type Code (m²/g) (g/cm³) LOI (%) LOI (%) LOI (%) b-F B1 3.44 2.33 4.36 5.01 1.90, 2.06, 3.7, 4.70, 5.74 b-F B2 1.84, 4.05, 4.81 s-C C1 5.36 2.76 1.62 0.7 0.18, 0.62 b-F C2 2.63 2.20 3.32 3.04 2.90, 3.70, 4.68 w-F C3 2.54 s-C D 2.40 2.60 0.25 0.13 s-C E1 1.3, 2.3 b-F H1 8.45  6.37 b-F H2 3.6, 4.9 w-F M1 1.54 2.35 0.35 0.21 b-F M2 3.43 2.20 5.34 8.78 10.35 b-F M3 4.80 2.16 11.33 3.15 w-F N 2.01 2.32 0.30 F R 2.20 2.13 0.21 0.17 lignite s: Sub-bituminous; b: bituminous; w: western; C: class C; F: class F The results of the measurements of air entrainment in various mixes, respectively pastes, mortars and concrete, are shown in Tables 2, 3 and 4 below.

TABLE 2 Air entrained (vol %) in PCA cement paste with and without fly ash (50:50 fly ash:cement) by 1 part (0.0125 wt %) (col. 1), 4 parts (0.05 wt %) (col. 2) and 8 parts (0.1 wt %) (col. 3) of Air 30, (Maximum air protocol, see below). Column 1 2 3 Air 30 Air 30 Air 30 1x 4x 8x Fly Ash LOI (%) (0.0125%) (0.05%) (0.1%) PCA 6 11 13 R 0.21 3 8 12 D 0.25 4 11 14 M1 0.35 4 9 11 C1 1.62 3 9 14 B1 4.36 0 4 8 M2 5.34 0 3 5 M3 11.33 0 4 7 Average (%) 2 7 10 RSD (%) 86 46 36

TABLE 3 Air entrained (vol %) in PCA mortars with and without fly ash (30:70 fly ash:cement) by 0.002 wt % Air 30 or 0.005 wt % Air 40. Mortar (30:70 fly ash:cement) Air 30 Air 40 LOI (%) 0.002% 0.005% PCA 11.4 14.3 D 0.13 7.4 11.8 R 0.17 7.8 12.6 M1 0.21 1.5 5.6 C1 0.7 1.1 5.2 C3 2.54 3.3 5.9 C2 3.04 2.4 6.1 M3 3.15 1.9 7.3 B1 5.01 0 0.9 M2 8.78 0 0.8 H1 8.45 0 0.1 Average (%) 3 6 RSD (%) 107 73

TABLE 4 Air entrained (vol %) in PCA Concrete with and without fly ash (25:75 fly ash:cement) by 0.0057 wt % Air 30 (col. 1), 0.0031 wt % Air 40 (col. 2) or 0.0117 wt % Air 40 (col. 3). Column 1 2 3 Concrete (25:75 fly ash:cement) Air 30 Air 40 Air 40 LOI (%) 0.0057% 0.0031% 0.0117% PCA 12.0 5.8 9.0 B1 1.90 6.7 1.6 B1 2.10 5.3 B1 4.70 2.0 C2 2.90 5.0 C2 3.70 1.4 4.3 C2 4.68 3.0 PCC 10.0 B1 2.06 5.9 B1 5.74 5.9 C1 0.18 5.8 C1 0.62 2.7 C2 2.90 5.8 C2 3.70 3.5 C2 4.70 2.0 H1 6.37 3.3 M2 10.35 1.6

In many of the pastes, mortars and concrete samples examined which contained fly ash, it was found difficult to entrain air, i.e., much less air is entrained compared to corresponding systems containing no fly ash.

In each group (paste, mortar and concrete) large variations in the percentages of air entrained were observed among the different types of fly ash. The variability in the percentage of entrained air for different fly ash-cement systems is illustrated (e.g., Tables 2 and 3) by the high values of the relative standard deviation (σ/average % air). This shows that there is a large variability in the behaviour of the mixtures relative to entrained air.

Although the percentage of air entrained was generally low for high-carbon fly ash, some fly ash with low carbon also exhibit very low percentage air entrainment. This shows that the loss on ignition of a particular fly ash is not a reliable indicator of the behaviour of the fly ash, so it is difficulty to predict an adequate dosage of air entrainment agent or admixtures.

In high-carbon fly ash, the amount of air entrained in the paste (50:50 fly ash:cement) was only poorly related to the concentration of air entrainment agents and admixtures, as illustrated by the data shown in Table 2, Columns 1, 2 and 3. Thus the behaviour of air entrainment as a function of concentration of air entrainment agent is unpredictable.

It was also noted that, at high dosages of air entrainment agents, the relative standard deviation values for pastes decrease because an upper limit is reached at 13-14% air for all the fly ash mixtures. Such a ceiling can also be observed in concrete at 12-15% air when a very large excess of air entrainment agent is added, regardless of the fly ash. The problem is that this ceiling is too high to apply an overdose of air entrainment agent in field work.

EXAMPLES

Equivalent studies to those summarised above were carried out on pastes and mixtures containing various kinds of fly ash, air entrainment agents and sacrificial agents according to the present invention. The results are shown in the Tables below.

Examples Relating to Adsorption and Precipitation of Air Entrainment Agents and Sacrificial Agents in Aqueous Fly Ash Slurries Experimental Protocols Adsorption/Precipitation of Sacrificial Agents (SA) or Air Entrainment Agents (AEA) in 10 wt % Aqueous Fly Ash Slurries at pH 12.5: Preparation of SA or AEA Solution:

Aqueous solutions of the sacrificial agents were prepared at a concentration of 3 mM or 0.003M in 0.03N NaOH (pH 12.5); aqueous solutions of the commercial AEA of unknown molecular weight (Air 30 and Air 40) were prepared at 1050 mg/l corresponding approximately to 3 mM of DDBS, which has a molecular weight of 348 g/mol). The pH of the solutions were adjusted to 12.5 with NaOH.

Precipitation in Slurry Extract or Leachate:

To perform this test, FA or cement leachate were prepared in advance, by filtering two liters of a 10 wt % FA, or cement, slurry in 0.03N NaOH which had been left to stand under slow agitation for 30 min; 2.5 g of the filtrate solution was mixed with 22.5 g of the SA or AEA solution in a 50 ml polypropylene centrifuge tube; the latter was shaken vigorously in an orbital shaker (Eberbach Corporation) for 30 min at room temperature, centrifuged for 5 min and then the supernatant solution was filtered (0.45 μm). The SA or AEA content of the solution was determined using an Ultraviolet-Visible (UV) spectrometer or by COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) measurement.

Similarly, the solubility of SA and AEA in saturated lime solution (pH 12.7) were measured to evaluate the extent of precipitation of the Ca-salts of the SA or AEA under these conditions. These experiments comprise: preparing a lime solution at pH 12.7 and mixing the latter with a solution of SA (3 mM) or AEA (1050 mg/l); the proportions were again 2.5 g of the lime solution and 22.5 g of the SA or AEA solution; the sample was agitated, filtered and analyzed for dissolved SA or AEA as described above for slurry leachate experiments.

Adsorption/Precipitation in FA or Cement Slurries:

In this protocol, aqueous slurries containing 10 wt % FA or cement were prepared as described above, except that in this case, the cement was added directly into a solution of the SA or AEA in the following proportions: 3.0 g cement or FA, and 27 g of 3 mM sacrificial agent, or 27 g of 1050 mg/l AEA; the latter were prepared in the same way as in the precipitation test above. The residual (soluble) SA or AEA content in the solution was also determined by UV or COD.

Results Example 1

Adsorption (wt % Adsorbed) of sacrificial agents or air entrainment agents in slurries containing 10 wt % PCA cement or fly ash at pH 12.5 and Precipitation (wt % precipitated) in solutions extracted from slurries containing 10 wt % PCA cement or fly ash at pH 12.5; initial concentrations: sacrificial agents (3 mM), Air 30 and Air 40 (0.105 wt %).

Entries in parentheses: % precipitation when reacted with solutions extracted from the fly ash slurries (Results in Table 5).

TABLE 5 LOI Fly Ash (%) BA EGPE NA ND NS Air 30 Air 40 PCA 3 (1) 79 (79) 73 (74) R 0.21 24 (0)  64 (52) 65 (24) D, class C 0.25 59 (1)  84 (9)  69 (13) N 0.30 16 (11)  1 (0) 20 (0)  26 (0) 5 (0) M1 0.35 13 (11)  4 (1) 90 (80) 27 (0) 11 (0)  70 (59) 70 (67) C1, class C 1.62 25 (11) 12 (0) 61 (0)   84 (31) 70 (10) 89 (32) 76 (25) C2 3.32 20 (14)  6 (0) 4 (0) 17 (0) 5 (0) B1 4.36 25 (12) 12 (0) 9 (0) 14 (0) 8 (0) 25 (7)  46 (19) M2 5.34 23 (15) 14 (0) 9 (0) 13 (0) 8 (0) 18 (7)  30 (4)  M3 11.33 23 (13) 14 (0) 12 (0)  18 (0) 10 (0)  55 (7)  66 (0) 

As can be noted from the data in Table 5, a major fraction of the air entrainment agents tested (Air 30 and Air 40), was removed from the slurry solution due to adsorption onto the fly ash and cement particles, and precipitation as insoluble salts (see entries in parentheses: % precipitated).

Under the same conditions, the sacrificial agents are not significantly precipitated, except for 1-naphthoic acid in the presence of the M1 fly ash, where precipitation of calcium naphthoate is likely due to a high level of soluble Ca in this fly ash.

Because there is no significant precipitation of the SA in the fly ash leachate, the SA removed from the slurries must be removed through adsorption onto the fly ash. Adsorption of the sacrificial agents in alkaline fly ash slurries is significant and shows several distinct behaviours, which may be seen as:

-   -   low adsorption, increasing with increasing fly ash carbon, for         example ethylene glycol phenyl ether;     -   intermediate adsorption not related to fly ash carbon content:         for example, benzylamine and sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene         sulfonate; and     -   strong adsorption on specific fly ash materials: for example         1-naphthoic acid sodium salt, sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene         sulfonate and sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate.

The trends observed in the behaviour of the sacrificial agents point to different classes of sacrificial agents which could be used to compete with adsorption of air entrainment agents in fly ash-cement pastes, or inhibit other detrimental fly ash-related processes, in the absence of interfering precipitation phenomena.

The observations on adsorption-precipitation behaviours clearly distinguishes the sacrificial agents additives from air entrainment agents surfactants; the latter are strongly adsorbed or precipitated in the presence of fly ash (last two columns), whereas the sacrificial agents are not. To persons skilled in the art, the sacrificial agents of Table 5 are not classified as ‘surfactants’ except for di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate which exhibits an inherent surface activity and is said to both a hydrotrope and a surfactant.

Examples Relating to Air Entrainment in Cement or Fly Ash:Cement Pastes Experimental Protocols

The following protocols were followed for measurements of fluidity and air entrainment of various types of pastes compositions of examples below.

Preparation of Pastes:

Pastes were prepared by pouring 400 g of cementitious powder in the 350-400 g of solution (water and additives) in a vessel (8.4 cm dia,×14.5 cm height) while gently stirring with a spatula; the exact quantity of water depends on the selected W/B ratio (see below); rapid hand mixing was continued for 1 minute, followed by intense stirring at 25° C. during 2 min using a hand-held mixer (BRAUN model MR400). The level of air entrained is dependent on the mode of utilisation of the mixer, namely the height of the mixer from the bottom of the vessel and the length of the mixing stroke; the following protocols were adopted.

Minimum Air Protocol:

The BRAUN mixer is positioned at 1.0 inch from the bottom of the mixing vessel and the up-down motion of the mixer is limited to a 1.0 inch displacement; this provided ‘minimum air’ entrained air levels and is later referred to as ‘Minimum air protocol’ (Results reported in Table 6, col. 1 and Table 7).

Maximum Air Protocol:

The BRAUN mixer is positioned at 2.5 inch from the bottom of the mixing vessel and the up-down motion of the mixer is limited to a 2.5 inch displacement; this provided ‘maximum air’ entrained air levels and is later referred to as ‘Maximum air protocol’ (Results reported in Tables 2 and 8-11).

Fluidity Measurements:

For all air entrainment measurements, the initial fluidity of the paste (without additives) was controlled using the ‘mini-slump’ procedure widely used for paste and grouts. In this protocol, a portion of the paste was transferred into the min-slump cone (a 2¼″ high, 1½″ bottom diameter, ¾″ top diameter cone); excess paste was skimmed-off with a straight; the cone was then raised and the spread diameter of the paste was recorded (average of two measurements). The fluidity is measured at 10 minutes after mixing. The paste is returned to the batch and reserved for subsequent AE measurements. The fluidity of the paste (without SA and AEA) is adjusted by changing the amount of water (water/cementitious ratio) which yields a spread diameter of 115±5 mm. The latter is monitored regularly.

Air Entrainment Measurements:

For air entrainment measurements, a portion of the paste was transferred to overfill a Plexiglas cylinder (3¾ inches height, 2 inches interior diameter), which was then levelled flush to the top of the cylinder with a straight edge. The mass of the filled cylinder, minus the weight of the empty cylinder, is then recorded and used to calculate the amount of air according to the following formula:

${\% \mspace{14mu} {Air}} = \frac{\begin{bmatrix} {\left( {{Mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {mix}\mspace{14mu} {without}\mspace{14mu} {AEA}\mspace{14mu} {or}\mspace{14mu} {SA}} \right) -} \\ \left( {{Mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {mix}\mspace{14mu} {with}\mspace{14mu} {AEA}\mspace{14mu} {or}\text{/}{and}\mspace{14mu} {SA}} \right) \end{bmatrix}}{\left( {{Mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {mix}\mspace{14mu} {without}\mspace{14mu} {AEA}\mspace{14mu} {or}\mspace{14mu} {SA}} \right)}$

This procedure was carried out at three times at 30 min. intervals (6, 36 and 66 min); the paste was let to stand at rest between measurements, and was stirred gently by hand for one minute prior to the subsequent air entrainment measurements.

The following tables gives specific mixtures compositions of various pastes used for air entrainment measurements.

Typical mixture compositions for air entrainment measurements in pastes containing a single additive using ‘Minimum air protocol’ (results shown in Table 6, col. 1):

Wt % Composition Weight (g) actives/CM Fly ash 200 50 portland cement 200 50 Air 30 solution (5.07 wt % solid) 7.89 0.1 or Air 40 solution (4.99% solid) 8.02 0.1 or SA solution (1 wt % solid) 40 0.1 Water Depending on the water/binder ratio (W/B) required for constant specified paste fluidity (W/B = 0.40-0.55)

Typical mixture compositions for air entrainment measurements in pastes containing Air 30 plus a sacrificial agent using ‘Minimum air protocol’ (results shown in Table 7):

Wt % Composition Weight (g) Actives/CM Fly ash 200 50 portland cement 200 50 Air 30 solution (5.07 wt % solid) 7.89 0.1 SA solution (1 wt % solid) 20 0.05 Water According to (W/B) required for constant specified paste fluidity W/B = 0.40-0.55

Typical mixture compositions for air entrainment measurements in pastes containing Air 30 plus a combination of sacrificial agent; the following example refers to the mixture of Air 30, ND and EGPE (ratio 1/4/4, 0.0125% Air 30, 0.05% ND and 0.05% EGPE) (results in Table 8, col. 10):

Preparation of a Stock Solution of SA and AEA:

The sacrificial agents were blended with the AEA to give the desired ratio, for example 1/4/4, using the sample weights indicated in the Table below for a stock solution of Air 30, ND and EGPE.

Concentration Component % solid Weight (g) (wt %) Ratio Air 30 5.07 11.27 0.571 1 ND 35.47 6.444 2.285 4 EGPE 100 2.286 2.293 4 Water 80 Total 100 5.15

The paste compositions prepared with the combined Air 30:ND:EGPE at ratios 1:4:4, for a fixed dosage of Air 30 in the paste at 0.0125 wt %, are given below. The air entrainment results are reported in Table 8, col. 10.

Component Weight (g) Fly ash  200 g ordinary portland cement  200 g Mixture of SA and AEA (0.571 wt % 8.76 Air 30) Water According to (W/B) required for constant specified paste fluidity W/B = 0.40-0.55

Other combinations of air entrainment agents and sacrificial agents were prepared as stock solutions following the procedure outlined above, adjusting the weights of the various components to achieve the desired component ratios. The paste compositions were also prepared as described above, keeping the cement and fly ash content fixed at 200 g each; the stock solution containing the AEA and SA at pre-determined ratios was introduced to achieve a final Air 30 concentration of 0.0125 wt %.

Examples of Air Entrainment Results in Pastes Example 2

Air entrained (vol %) in PCA cement paste containing 0.1 wt % (Table 6, col. 1) and 0.0125 wt % (Table 6, col. 2) air entrainment agents (Air 30 or Air 40) or selected sacrificial agents alone measured under ‘Minimum air’ and ‘Maximum air’ protocols (Results in Table 6).

TABLE 6 Column 1 2 Minimum air protocol Maximum air protocol 0.1% SA or AEA 0.0125% SA or AEA Air 30 4 6 Air 40 4 9 BA 0 1 NA 0 0 ND 3 7 EGPE 0 1 NS 0 2

In comparison to the air entrained by the air entrainment agents (Air 30 and Air 40) in the cement pastes, the sacrificial agents alone do not entrain air significantly, except for sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate. Comparison of the air entrainment results further distinguishes the sacrificial agents of the present invention from conventional surfactants and air entrainment agents.

Example 3

Air entrained (vol %) in 50:50 fly ash:PCA cement paste by 0.1 wt. % Air 30 alone and by 0.05 wt % sacrificial agents together with 0.1% Air 30 (Minimum air protocol) (Results in Table 7).

TABLE 7 Fly ash LOI (%) Air 30 +BA +NA +ND +EGPE +NS R 0.21 9 5 4 3 5 6 D 0.25 15 5 6 3 5 6 M1 0.35 3 11 6 5 5 4 C1 1.62 4 14 5 4 5 12 B1 4.36 3 5 4 4 4 4 M2 5.34 7 4 4 4 4 3 M3 11.33 6 4 5 4 4 4 Ave. (%) 7 7 5 4 4 5 RSD (%) 63 57 18 18 13 54

As noted in preceding sections in the Example above, air entrainment in FA-cement (50:50) pastes, using a conventional AEA, exhibits high variability: Air 30 alone (0.1 wt %) entrains an average of 7% air in the different FA-cement pastes, with a relative standard deviation of 63%.

In combination with most of the sacrificial agents, Air 30 entrained somewhat less air on the average, but the RSD was reduced considerably in many cases; the reduction in RSD was particularly important with 1-naphthoic acid, sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether, with RSD values less than 20%.

An additional important aspect of the present invention is the finding of a class of sacrificial agents which can reduce the variability of air entrainment in cementitious systems containing different fly ash materials with vastly different properties; particularly useful candidates are ethylene glycol phenyl ether, sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and 1-naphthoic acid.

Example 4

Air entrained (vol %) at 66 min in 50:50 fly ash:PCA cement paste by 1 part of Air 30 (0.0125%) alone and different parts (or at varying ratios) of two sacrificial agents's (sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate (ND) and ethylene glycol phenyl ether (EGPE)), (Maximum air protocol) (Results in Table 8).

TABLE 8 Col. 4 5 3 Air 30/ Air 30/ 6 7 8 9 10 Air 30 ND EGPE Air 30/ND/EGPE 2 Ratio 1 LOI 1 Line fly ash (%) (0.0125%) 1/4 1/4 1/1/2 1/1/4 1/1/6 1/2/4 1/4/4 1 PCA 6 16 8 6 13 13 14 23 2 R 0.21 3 17 11 15 17 17 18 18 3 D 0.25 4 17 13 19 19 19 19 22 4 M1 0.35 4 18 10 14 16 18 17 18 5 C1 1.62 3 17 10 12 14 15 15 19 6 B1 4.36 0 11 3 4 7 8 11 14 7 M2 5.34 0 6 1 4 6 8 9 11 8 M3 11.33 0 10 3 5 7 8 10 13 9 Ave. 2 14 7 11 12 13 14 17 (%) 10 RSD 86 32 65 58 43 38 29 23 (%)

Using the ‘maximum air’ test protocol and Air 30 at a dosage typical of that used for air entrainment in concrete, the air entrained in the fly ash-cement pastes averaged 2% with a RSD value of 86% (col. 3).

Addition of ethylene glycol phenyl ether at four (4) times the fixed Air 30 dosage yields an increase in the air entrained (7%), and a significant reduction in RSD (col. 5).

Addition of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate at four (4) times the fixed Air 30 dosage yields a significant increase in the air entrained (14%) in all fly ash:cement pastes, and an important reduction in RSD values (col. 4).

Adding selected combinations of the two sacrificial agents, ethylene glycol phenyl ether and sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate, yields further improvement: Higher average % air entrained and lower RSD values (col. 6-10).

A further important aspect of the present invention is the finding that the use of combinations of sacrificial agents having different molecular properties and adsorption/precipitation behaviour further reduces the variability in the % air in different fly ash:cement pastes.

Example 5

Air entrained (vol %) at 66 min in 50:50 fly ash:PCA cement paste by 1 part of Air 30 (0.0125 wt %) combined with 4 parts (0.05 wt %) of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate (ND) and 4 parts of various other non ionic sacrificial agents (X), (Air 30/ND/X=1/4/4), (Maximum air protocol) (Results in Table 9).

TABLE 9 LOI Di- 1-Phe 2- Di- PEG PEG Line fly ash (%) EGPE EGME EGBE Pro PGME Glycerol 200 1500 1 PCA 23 18 22 17 23 16 18 20 2 R 0.21 18 17 22 16 20 18 18 18 3 D 0.25 22 20 24 18 25 18 20 21 4 M1 0.35 18 17 21 16 20 16 19 18 5 C1 1.62 19 20 21 18 21 18 6 B1 4.36 14 12 16 13 16 12 14 14 7 M2 5.34 11 8 11 9 11 7 9 9 8 M3 11.33 13 12 17 13 15 11 9 Ave. 17 15 19 15 18 14 16 16 (%) 10 RSD 23 31 24 22 25 29 30 28 (%)

Example 6

Air entrained (vol %) at 66 min in 50:50 fly ash:PCA cement paste by 1 part of Air 30 (0.0125%) combined with 4 parts of sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate (NS) and 4 parts of various other non-ionic sacrificial agents (X), (Air 30/NS/X=1/4/4), (Maximum air protocol) (Results in Table 10).

TABLE 10 Line fly ash LOI (%) EGPE PEG 1500 1 PCA 11 2 R 0.21 11 16 3 D 0.25 15 19 4 M1 0.35 11 18 5 C1 1.62 9 6 B1 4.36 4 8 7 M2 5.34 3 5 8 M3 11.33 3

Example 7

Air entrained (vol %) at 66 min in 50:50 fly ash:PCA cement paste by 1 part of Air 30 (0.0125 wt %) combined with 4 parts (0.05 wt %) of various other sulfonated sacrificial agents (X) and 4 parts of Butoxyethanol (ButOH), (Air 30/X/ButOH=1/4/4), (Maximum air protocol) (Results in Table 11).

TABLE 11 Line fly ash LOI (%) ND Cumene DBNS NS 1 PCA 23 14 17 13 2 R 0.21 3 D 0.25 24 18 20 18 4 M1 0.35 5 C1 1.62 6 B1 4.36 17 7 11 7 7 M2 5.34 11 5 7 5 8 M3 11.33

Observations:

-   Table 7: Comparing average values of air entrained in the different     fly ash:cement pastes, and the corresponding RSD values, several     other sacrificial agents in the family of polyols and alcohol     ethers, used in conjunction with sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene     sulfonate, yield results similar to those found with ethylene glycol     phenyl ether. -   Table 8: Judging from the % air entrained as function of increasing     fly ash carbon, the sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate/ethylene glycol     phenyl ether and sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate/PEG combinations     provide some improvement, though their performance is lower than     that of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate/ethylene glycol     phenyl ether. -   Table 9: Again from examination of the % air entrained, the     sacrificial agents combinations involving Butoxyethanol and several     sulfonated sacrificial agents, also yield substantial improvements,     though again, their performance is lower than that of sodium     di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate/ethylene glycol phenyl ether     -   These observations broadly identify two preferred classes of         valuable sacrificial agents: sulfonated aromatics and glycols or         glycol derivatives; most preferred is the sodium di-isopropyl         naphthalene sulfonate/ethylene glycol phenyl ether combination.

Data from Tables 7 to 11 particularly indicate the value of two groups of chemicals:

-   -   1—Salts of sulfonated aromatic compounds derived from benzene or         naphthalene, and bearing other alkyl residues (methyl, butyl,         iso-propyl)     -   2—Low molecular weight glycol and glycol derivatives, namely         ethers bearing an alkyl or aryl group.

Individual chemicals from other categories, such as amines (benzylamine worked well in mortars), sodium naphthoate (worked well in pastes); 20 or so other products from different chemical families were screened out of the test, early in the protocol.

The two main groups of sacrificial agents identified may be loosely classified in the family of hydrotropes (‘Any species that enhances the solubility of another’ (in water); ‘Examples: alkyl-aryl sulfonates such as toluene sulfonate’ (The Language of Colloid an Interface Science, A dictionary of Terms’, Laurel, L Schram, ACS Professional Reference Book, American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C., 1993). The low molecular weight glycol derivatives would also qualify as hydrotropes.

Hence, in addition to the requirements set forth by the detailed protocol for selection of potential candidates, most of the experimental results indicate that successful candidates need not be surfactants, but should exhibit ‘hydrotropic’ features.

Examples Pertaining to Air Entrainment in Mortars Experimental Protocols

Air entrainment were measured in mortars containing portland cement only (control), or a combination of portland cement and fly ash in the ratio 70:30;

The mix compositions are given in the Table below and the measurements were performed according to standard protocols described in ASTM C185-88

Wt % Components Weight (actives/CM) Fly ash   105 g 30 Ordinary portland   245 g 70 cement Sand 20-30  1400 g 400 Air 30 (3.5 wt % solid)  0.9 oz/cwt 0.002 or Air 40 (12 wt % solid)  0.6 oz/cwt 0.005 SA (100 wt % solid) 0.175 g 0.05 Water 210-280 (To obtain a flow of 80-95% after 10 drops of flow table) W/B = 0.6-0.8

Results Example 8

Influence of selected sacrificial agents at 0.05 wt % on air entrainment by 0.002 wt % Air 30 in (30:70) fly ash:cement mortars or 0.0017 wt % Air 30 in PCA cement mortars (Results in Table 12).

TABLE 12 0.002 +0.05 +0.05 +0.05 wt % wt % wt % wt % Fly Ash LOI (%) Air 30 EGPE BA NS PCA (0.0017%) 11.4 14.0 11.4 13.4 D 0.13 7.4 14.9 13.2 11.4 R 0.17 7.8 13.5 13.4 12.0 M1 0.21 1.5 5.4 4.7 5.8 C1 0.70 1.1 4.7 3.9 4.3 C3 2.54 3.3 5.9 6.0 4.8 C2 3.04 2.4 6.9 5.9 5.9 M3 3.15 1.9 7.6 1.5 6.9 B1 5.01 0.0 3.6 3.0 4.0 H1 8.45 0.0 3.1 1.8 2.7 M2 8.78 0.0 2.8 2.1 2.8 Average (%) 2.5 6.8 5.6 6.1 RSD (%) 107 58 75 51

Observations:

-   -   In mortars, air entrainment by Air 30 alone is strongly reduced         with many of the fly ash having high carbon content and several         fly ash having low carbon; the RSD value is extremely high, in         excess of 100%.     -   With combinations of Air 30 with different candidate sacrificial         agents, the average % air increases substantially, and the         variability, illustrated by the RSD values is decreased by         approximately 50% in the case of ethylene glycol phenyl ether         and sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate.

Example 9

Influence of selected sacrificial agents at 0.05 wt % or 0.1 wt % (case of EGPE only) on air entrainment by 0.005 wt % Air 40 in (30:70) fly ash:cement mortars or 0.004 wt % Air 40 in PCA cement mortars (Results in Table 13).

TABLE 13 (results of col. 2 and 3 shown in FIG. 1) Column 1 2 3 4 5 0.005 +0.05 +0.1 +0.05 +0.05 wt % wt % wt % wt % wt % Fly Ash LOI (%) Air 40 EGPE EGPE BA NS PCA (0.004%) 14.3 14.9 16.2 14.2 14.8 D 0.13 11.8 12.8 13.2 11.2 12.6 R 0.17 12.6 13.5 15.2 12.7 13.7 M1 0.21 5.6 8.0 12.7 7.2 8.2 C1 0.70 5.2 6.6 12.6 5.4 7.2 C3 2.54 5.9 8.0 9.8 7.5 7.8 C2 3.04 6.1 8.8 12.4 6.7 7.5 M3 3.15 7.3 10.2 18.3 8.2 10.0 B1 5.01 0.9 5.4 9.3 4.3 5.6 H1 8.45 0.1 3.1 5.7 2.4 3.0 M2 8.78 0.8 4.9 6.7 3.9 5.0 Average (%) 5.6 8.1 12 6.9 8.0 RSD (%) 73 39 32 44 39

Observations:

-   -   The results obtained with Air 40 are similar to those observed         with Air 30: in the presence of the same sacrificial agents, a         significant increase in the % air entrained and a strong         reduction in the RSD values.     -   In the mortar containing PCA only, the air level is high and it         is not significantly affected by addition of the SA. The same is         true in mortars with FA which allow reasonable air entrainment,         e.g. D and R fly ash. With other fly ash where air entrainment         is low with Air 40 only, the presence of EGPE increases the         level of air entrained very substantially in all cases tested.

These observations confirm, for mortars, the findings described earlier in fly ash:cement pastes for single sacrificial agents, with common concrete air entrainment agents tested: the proposed sacrificial agents can increase air content and reduce the % air variability among the different fly ashes.

Examples Pertaining to Air Entrainment in Concrete Experimental Protocols

Air entrainment in fresh concrete mixtures were performed according to protocols described in ASTM C 231-97 with mix proportions as given below. In all concrete containing fly ash, the fly ash content was fixed at 25%. The dosage of air entrainment agents and of sacrificial agents are reported in the various Table of results presented below.

Ingredient (per yard³ of concrete) Weight (lbs) FA  112.5 (25%) Cement  337.5 River sand 1285-1335 ¾ inch crushed lime stone 1650 Water  260-300 (To obtain a slump of 5-6 inches) W/B = 0.58-0.67

The sacrificial agents were added to the cementitious mixtures in several ways:

-   -   1) mixing together with water and air entrainment agent solution     -   2) premixed with the fly ash     -   3) post-added into the fresh concreteconcrete which already         contained the air entrainment agent.

Results Results Pertaining to the Influence of Sacrificial Agents on Air Entrainment in Portland Cement Concrete (No Fly Ash)

This section is included to demonstrate the behaviour of the sacrificial agents and combinations of air entrainment and sacrificial agents in normal PC concrete, or concrete which would contained ideal, problem-free fly ash. The results are also intended to further distinguish between the properties of the sacrificial agents and those of the conventional air entrainment agents.

Example 10

Air entrainment by ethylene glycol phenyl ether alone at various dosages in PCC cement concrete (no fly ash) (Results in Table 14).

TABLE 14 Fly Air 40 ND EGPE Total SA ND/ fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGPE Cement ash % % % 1 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCC 1.0 2 0.000 0.010 0.01 PCC 1.9 3 0.000 0.015 0.02 PCC 1.7 4 0.000 0.030 0.03 PCC 2.0 5 0.000 0.050 0.05 PCC 2.0 6 0.000 0.075 0.08 PCC 2.1 7 0.000 0.100 0.10 PCC 2.1

Observations:

-   -   The addition of a sacrificial agents such as ethylene glycol         phenyl ether in cement-only concrete (without air entrainment         agents) leads to an increase of about 1% in air entrained above         the control values, even at very high dosages (line 7); such an         effect is not significant in concrete practice, and thus         ethylene glycol phenyl ether can be used even in concrete         without fly ash (an excess of ethylene glycol phenyl ether does         not effect the air entrained in cement concrete).

Example 11

Air entrainment by sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate alone at various dosages in PCC cement concrete (no fly ash) (Results in Table 15).

TABLE 15 fly Air 40 ND EGPE Total SA ND/ fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGPE Cement ash % % % 1 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCC 1.0 2 0.000 0.001 0.00 PCC 2.3 3 0.000 0.003 0.00 PCC 4.1 4 0.000 0.003 0.00 PCC 3.1 5 0.000 0.005 0.01 PCC 4.6 6 0.000 0.005 0.01 PCC 4.8 7 0.000 0.005 0.01 PCC 4.6 8 0.000 0.010 0.01 PCC 4.6 9 0.000 0.020 0.02 PCC 3.9 10 0.000 0.030 0.03 PCC 3.8 11 0.000 0.040 0.04 PCC 3.9

Observations:

-   -   The incorporation of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate         in cement-only concrete without air entrainment agents leads to         a significant increase of the entrained air, i.e., 2-3% above         control,     -   The % air increment is low compared to conventional air         entrainment agents at similar dosages and it does not vary         substantially with sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate         concentration

In applications where air entrainment is undesirable, the dosage of sacrificial agents having some surfactant character, such as sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate, must be kept below some critical values.

Example 12

Air entrainment by sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether together at different ratios and total dosages in PCC cement concrete (no fly ash) (Results in Table 16).

TABLE 16 Fly Air 40 ND EGPE Total SA ND/ fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGPE Cement ash % % % 1 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCC 1.0 1 0.000 0.001 0.010 0.01 1/8 PCC 3.5 2 0.000 0.002 0.015 0.02 1/8 PCC 3.8 3 0.000 0.004 0.030 0.03 1/8 PCC 3.8 4 0.000 0.006 0.050 0.06 1/8 PCC 4.4 5 0.000 0.009 0.075 0.08 1/8 PCC 3.4 6 0.000 0.003 0.010 0.01 1/4 PCC 3.8 7 0.000 0.004 0.015 0.02 1/4 PCC 3.5 8 0.000 0.008 0.030 0.04 1/4 PCC 4.1 9 0.000 0.013 0.050 0.06 1/4 PCC 3.6 10 0.000 0.019 0.075 0.09 1/4 PCC 3.6 11 0.000 0.005 0.010 0.02 1/2 PCC 5.1 12 0.000 0.008 0.015 0.02 1/2 PCC 5.2 13 0.000 0.015 0.030 0.05 1/2 PCC 4.1 14 0.000 0.025 0.050 0.08 1/2 PCC 3.9 15 0.000 0.038 0.075 0.11 1/2 PCC 3.7

Observations:

-   -   As shown by the results in Table 15, the addition of two         sacrificial agents, ethylene glycol phenyl ether and sodium         di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate, at varying dosages and         ratios in cement-only concrete, without air entrainment agents,         was found to increase the % air entrained above the control by         2-4%,     -   The influence of the ethylene glycol phenyl ether-sodium         di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate combination is similar to         that of the sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate alone so         there is no significant synergy in air entrainment by these two         sacrificial agents alone in the absence of air entrainment         agents and fly ash.

Example 13

Influence of ethylene glycol phenyl ether at various dosages on Air entrainment by Air 40 (0.003 and 0.006 wt %) in PCA cement concrete (Results in Table 17).

TABLE 17 (results shown in FIG. 2) fly Air 40 ND EGPE Total SA ND/ fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGPE Cement ash % % % 1 0.003 0.000 0.00 PCA 6.0 2 0.003 0.050 0.05 PCA 6.5 3 0.003 0.100 0.10 PCA 6.5 4 0.003 0.150 0.15 PCA 6.6 5 0.003 0.200 0.20 PCA 6.2 6 0.003 0.250 0.25 PCA 7.5 7 0.006 0.000 0.00 PCA 8.2 8 0.006 0.050 0.05 PCA 8.1 9 0.006 0.100 0.10 PCA 8.3 10 0.006 0.150 0.15 PCA 7.5 11 0.006 0.200 0.20 PCA 8.0 12 0.006 0.250 0.25 PCA 7.9

Observations:

-   -   The presence of ethylene glycol phenyl ether in cement-only         concrete containing an air entrainment agents leads to a slight         increase in the % air entrained values. Thus, the results show         that, in normal cement concrete (no fly ash), the addition of         increasing levels of EGPE up to rather high dosages has no         significant influence on air entrainment observed at a fixed         dosage of Air 40 (0.003 or 0.006 wt %).     -   The sacrificial agents of the present invention do not alter the         air entrainment performance of the conventional air entrainment         agents used at ‘normal’ or ‘typical’ dosages.

Example 14

Influence of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate together with ethylene glycol phenyl ether, or with ethylene glycol methyl ether, at various ratios and total dosage, on air entrainment by Air 40 (0.008 wt %) in PCA cement concrete (Results in Table 18).

TABLE 18 fly Air 40 ND EGPE Total SA ND/ fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGPE Cement ash % % % 1 0.008 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCA 7.8 2 0.008 0.000 0.035 0.04 PCA 6.2 3 0.008 0.018 0.035 0.05 1/2 PCA 8.5 4 0.008 0.035 0.035 0.07 1/1 PCA 7.0 5 0.008 0.000 0.075 0.08 PCA 6.2 6 0.008 0.038 0.075 0.11 1/2 PCA 6.4 7 0.008 0.075 0.075 0.15 1/1 PCA 6.2 fly Air 40 ND EGME Total SA ND/ fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGME Cement ash % % % 8 0.008 0.000 0.050 0.05 PCA 7.2 9 0.008 0.025 0.050 0.08 1/2 PCA 7.5 10 0.008 0.050 0.050 0.10 1/1 PCA 6.8

Observations:

-   -   In cement-only concrete containing Air 40 as the air entrainment         agent, the % air entrained does not vary significantly in the         presence of various sacrificial agents combinations: sodium         di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate with either ethylene glycol         phenyl ether or ethylene glycol methyl ether.     -   These results confirm that the proposed sacrificial agents, and         sacrificial agents combinations, have little or no influence on         the air entrainment properties of some commercial air         entrainment agents in cement-only concrete,     -   The performance sacrificial agents of the present invention are         not significantly affected by differences in the chemical         composition of cements PCC (previous results) and PCA (Tables 17         and 18).

Example 15

Influence of concrete chemical admixtures (Superplasticizer, SP; Water reducer, LW and set accelerator, AC) on air entrainment in PCA concrete by Air 40 (0.008%) in the presence of ethylene glycol phenyl ether as the sacrificial agent (Results in Table 19).

TABLE 19 Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA ND/ SP LW AC Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGPE Cement % CM % CM % CM % 1 0.008 0.000 0.00 PCA 0.401 8.6 2 0.008 0.065 0.07 PCA 0.401 8.0 3 0.008 0.378 0.38 PCA 0.401 8.9 4 0.008 0.756 0.76 PCA 0.401 6.9 5 0.008 0.000 0.00 PCA 0.107 9.4 6 0.008 0.065 0.07 PCA 0.107 9.6 7 0.008 0.378 0.38 PCA 0.107 8.3 8 0.008 0.756 0.76 PCA 0.107 8.0 9 0.008 0.000 0.00 PCA 0.587 8.0 10 0.008 0.065 0.07 PCA 0.587 7.9 11 0.008 0.378 0.38 PCA 0.587 7.1 12 0.008 0.756 0.76 PCA 0.587 6.3

Observations:

At a fixed dosage of Air 40, the % air entrained is not significantly influenced by either:

-   -   A ten-fold increase of the dosage of the SA (comparing lines 2         to 4, lines 5 to 8).     -   The simultaneous addition of various other concrete admixtures:     -   SP a PNS superplasticizer (comparing line 1 with lines 2 to 4)     -   LW: a lignin-based water (comparing line 5 with lines 6 to 8)     -   AC: a calcium-based set accelerator (comparing line 9 with lines         10 to 12)

An additional finding of the present invention is that the role of ethylene glycol phenyl ether as a sacrificial agents of the present invention is not substantially altered by other common concrete chemical admixtures. Conversely, the sacrificial agents does not affect the performance of these other chemical admixtures.

Example 16

Influence of concrete admixtures (same as in previous Table) on air entrainment in PCA concrete by Air 40 (0.004, 0.006, 0.008 wt %) with sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol methyl ether (EGME) as sacrificial agents at varying total dosage and fixed 1:2 ratio (Results in Table 20).

TABLE 20 Total Air 40 ND EGME SA ND/ SP LW AC Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGME Cement % CM % CM % CM % 1 0.004 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCA 0.401 7.1 2 0.004 0.018 0.035 0.05 1/2 PCA 0.401 3.2 3 0.004 0.025 0.050 0.08 1/2 PCA 0.401 3.2 4 0.004 0.038 0.075 0.11 1/2 PCA 0.401 3.0 5 0.006 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCA 0.107 7.6 6 0.006 0.018 0.035 0.05 1/2 PCA 0.107 9.0 7 0.006 0.038 0.075 0.11 1/2 PCA 0.107 8.5 8 0.008 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCA 0.587 7.5 9 0.008 0.018 0.035 0.05 1/2 PCA 0.587 8.5 10 0.008 0.038 0.075 0.11 1/2 PCA 0.587 5.8

Observations:

-   -   In the presence of an alternate sacrificial agents combination         sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate/ethylene glycol methyl         ether, the % air entrained by Air 40 is decreased in the         presence of the superplasticizer (comparing lines 1-4), but not         significantly modified by either the water reducer (LW, lines         5-7) or the set accelerator (AC, lines 8-10);     -   A slight reduction in % air entrained by the superplasticizer is         not uncommon in concrete air entrainment (lines 1 to 4) and is         easily dealt with in practice.

Further findings of the present invention:

Sacrificial agents use in conjunction with the main types of other concrete chemical admixtures do not lead to erratic air entrainment behaviours.

The sacrificial agents of the present invention are compatible with other types of concrete chemical admixtures, i.e., there is no detrimental influence on the respective function of these admixtures.

Results Pertaining to the Influence of Sacrificial Agents on Air Entrainment with Air 40 in Concrete Containing B1-Fly Ash and PCA Cement at a Fixed Ratio of 25:75

The following examples were carried out to study the influence of dosage and ratio of most preferred SA with the same cement and FA from a constant source but varying LOI.

Example 17

Influence of ethylene glycol phenyl ether (0.1 wt %) on air entrainment with Air 40 at various dosages in B1 fly ash:PCA concrete; B1 fly ash at 1.94% LOI (Results in Table 21).

TABLE 21 fly Air 40 ND EGPE Total SA ND/ fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGPE Cement ash % % % 1 0.003 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 1.9 1.6 2 0.006 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 1.9 4.3 3 0.009 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 1.9 5.2 4 0.003 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 1.9 5.1 5 0.006 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 1.9 6.2 6 0.009 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 1.9 7.4

Observations:

-   -   In the presence of a fly ash with a relatively low LOI, the %         air entrained with a normal Air 40 dosage (0.003 wt %) is         strongly depressed.     -   The addition of ethylene glycol phenyl ether (0.1 wt %) allows         adequate air entrainment with the lowest (normal) air         entrainment agents dosages.     -   In the presence of the sacrificial agents, the % air increases         predictably with increasing dosage of Air 40.

It is thus further confirmed that the sacrificial agents of the present invention perform their intended function: allow the air entrainment agents to entrain normal levels of air, without significantly contributing themselves to the air entrainment.

Example 18

Influence of ethylene glycol phenyl ether (0.1 wt %) on air entrainment with Air 40 at various dosages in B1 fly ash:PCA concrete; B1 fly ash at 4.7% LOI (Results in Table 22).

TABLE 22 Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement fly ash % % % 1 0.003 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 4.7 1.8 2 0.006 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 4.7 1.6 3 0.009 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 4.7 2.6 4 0.003 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 3.0 5 0.006 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 3.7 6 0.009 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.5

Observations:

-   -   For this relatively high LOI fly ash, the % air entrained by Air         40 alone remains low at all dosages examined (2.6%).     -   In the presence of ethylene glycol phenyl ether, the % air         increases with increasing air entrainment agents dosage, towards         approx 5%.

Example 19

Influence of ethylene glycol phenyl ether (varying dosage) on air entrainment with Air 40 (0.003 wt %) in B1 fly ash:PCA concrete; B1 fly ash at 4.7% LOI (Results in Table 23).

TABLE 23 Air 40 ND EGPE Total Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement fly ash % % % 1 0.003 0.000 0.00 PCA 5.5 2 0.003 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 4.7 1.0 3 0.003 0.050 0.05 PCA B1 25 4.7 2.9 4 0.003 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 2.7 5 0.003 0.150 0.15 PCA B1 25 4.7 3.6 6 0.003 0.200 0.20 PCA B1 25 4.7 5.3 7 0.003 0.250 0.25 PCA B1 25 4.7 5.6

Observations:

-   -   With a high-carbon fly ash. the % air entrained by a normal         dosage of Air 40 is strongly depressed (comparing lines 1 and         2).     -   Addition of increasing dosages of ethylene glycol phenyl ether         (lines 3-7) leads to a substantial increase in the % air and a         levelling-off near 6-8 vol %; this ceiling is particularly         important for practical reasons, since it guards against excess         air when overdosing the ethylene glycol phenyl ether.

Example 20

Influence of ethylene glycol phenyl ether (varying dosage) on air entrainment with Air 40 (0.007 wt %) in B1 fly ash:PCA concrete; B1 fly ash at 4.7% LOI (Results in Table 24).

TABLE 24 Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement fly ash % % % 1 0.007 0.000 0.00 PCA 9.0 2 0.007 0.017 0.02 PCA 8.7 3 0.007 0.100 0.10 PCA 9.5 4 0.007 0.200 0.20 PCA 10.0 5 0.007 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 4.7 2.4 6 0.007 0.017 0.02 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.0 7 0.007 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 5.7 8 0.007 0.200 0.20 PCA B1 25 4.7 8.0

Observations:

-   -   The data obtained with a higher dosage of Air 40 (compared to         the previous example) shows that:     -   In cement-only concrete the % air entrained is not significantly         affected by increasing dosages of ethylene glycol phenyl ether         (lines 1 to 4).     -   Even at this higher Air 40 dosage, the % air entrained remains         low in this high LOI fly ash (line 5).     -   In the fly ash-cement concrete, increasing dosages of ethylene         glycol phenyl ether allow entrainment of air at a level close to         that in cement-only concrete (lines 5-8).

Example 21

Influence of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether at fixed 1:3 ratio and varying total dosage on air entrainment with Air 40 (varying concentration) in B1 fly ash:PCA concrete; B1 fly ash at different LOI (Results in Table 25).

TABLE 25 Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement fly ash % % % 1 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 2.1 1.2 2 0.004 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 2.1 1.7 3 0.008 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 2.1 3.7 4 0.012 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 2.1 5.3 5 0.000 0.012 0.035 0.05 1/3 PCA B1 25 3.7 4.3 6 0.004 0.012 0.035 0.05 1/3 PCA B1 25 3.7 5.8 7 0.008 0.012 0.035 0.05 1/3 PCA B1 25 3.7 7.8 8 0.012 0.012 0.035 0.05 1/3 PCA B1 25 3.7 8.0 9 0.000 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCA B1 25 5.7 4.3 10 0.004 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCA B1 25 5.7 6.2 11 0.008 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCA B1 25 5.7 9.0 12 0.012 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCA B1 25 5.7 8.5

Observations:

-   -   At a fixed ratio of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene         sulfonate/ethylene glycol phenyl ether (1/3), and realistic         total sacrificial agents dosages (0.05-0.07%), the % air         entrained varies smoothly with increasing Air 40 dosage,         regardless of the LOI values of the fly ash (2.1, 3.7 and 5.7%),     -   Again, overdosing of the sacrificial agents combination (lines         10-12) does not lead to excessive air contents.

An important finding of the invention is that adequate combinations and dosages of the sacrificial agents of the present invention makes it possible to normalize the air entrainment behaviour of fly ash-concrete, regardless of the carbon content of the fly ash.

Example 22

Influence of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether at various ratios and total dosages on air entrainment with Air 40 (0.008 wt %) in B1 fly ash:PCA concrete; B1 fly ash at 4.7% LOI (Results in Table 26).

TABLE 26 (results shown in FIG. 3) Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement fly ash % % % 1 0.008 0 0 0 PCA No FA 0 8.5 2 0.008 0 0 0 PCA B1 25 4.7 2.5 3 0.008 0 0.035 0.035 0 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.4 4 0.008 0.012 0.035 0.047 1/3 PCA B1 25 4.7 6 5 0.008 0.018 0.035 0.053 1/2 PCA B1 25 4.7 6.5 6 0.008 0.035 0.035 0.07 1/1 PCA B1 25 4.7 6.5 7 0.008 0.070 0.035 0.11 2/1 PCA B1 25 4.7 5.5 8 0.008 0.105 0.035 0.14 3/1 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.6 9 0.008 0 0.050 0.05 PCA B1 25 4.7 5 10 0.008 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCA B1 25 4.7 7.2 11 0.008 0.025 0.050 0.08 1/2 PCA B1 25 4.7 7.4 12 0.008 0.050 0.050 0.10 1/1 PCA B1 25 4.7 5.9 13 0.008 0.100 0.050 0.15 2/1 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.3 14 0.008 0.150 0.050 0.20 3 PCA B1 25 4.7 3.9

Observations:

-   -   The % air values obtained show that increasing dosages of ND         lead to increased air content but the latter levels-off and even         droops again when excess sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene         sulfonate dosages are added (as is the benefit of this         invention, again distinct from normal AEA for which the air         levels would continue to rise).     -   At a fixed dosage of ethylene glycol phenyl ether, increasing         the sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate dosage to high         values leads to a slight decrease in air entrained in these         mixes (lines 1-3, and lines 5-8); this shows that sodium         di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate does not behave as an air         entrainment agents in the conventional sense.

A further important finding is that the sacrificial agents of the present invention do not lead to excessive air entrainment when used in excess dosages, a crucial feature for the predictability of air entrainment behaviour.

Example 23

Influence of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol methyl ether (EGME) at various ratios and total dosages on air entrainment with Air 40 (0.008 wt %) in B1 fly ash:PCA concrete; B1 fly ash at 4.7% LOI (Results in Table 27).

TABLE 27 Total Air 40 ND EGME Sa Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGME Cement fly ash % % % 1 0.008 0.000 0.000 0.00 PCA B1 25 4.7 2.3 2 0.008 0.000 0.035 0.04 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.0 3 0.008 0.012 0.035 0.05 1/3 PCA B1 25 4.7 6.2 4 0.008 0.018 0.035 0.05 1/2 PCA B1 25 4.7 7.5 5 0.008 0.035 0.035 0.07 1 PCA B1 25 4.7 7.4 6 0.008 0.000 0.050 0.05 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.2 7 0.008 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCA B1 25 4.7 6.6 8 0.008 0.025 0.050 0.08 1/2 PCA B1 25 4.7 7.1 9 0.008 0.050 0.050 0.10 1 PCA B1 25 4.7 6.6 10 0.008 0.025 0.075 0.10 1/3 PCA B1 25 4.7 6.7 11 0.008 0.038 0.075 0.11 1/2 PCA B1 25 4.7 6.8 12 0.008 0.075 0.075 0.15 1 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.8

Observations:

-   -   The % air entrained by Air 40 with the sacrificial agent         combination sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate/ethylene         glycol methyl ether at various ratios and total dosages shows         adequate concrete air levels in most cases (5-7%),     -   At excessive dosage (e.g. line 12) the % air is slightly reduced         as observed earlier with the sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene         sulfonate/ethylene glycol phenyl ether combination (Table 26);         this again shows the absence of detrimental overdosage effect.         The results confirms that ethylene glycol methyl ether can also         be used as part of a sacrificial agents combination in fly ash         concrete.

Results Pertaining to the Influence of Sacrificial Agents on Air Entrainment in Concrete with Other Fly Ash and Other Cements

The following examples are an extension of the study to confirm the applicability of most preferred SA in mixtures containing other combinations of fly ash and cements.

Example 24

Influence of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate (0.0016 wt %) and ethylene glycol phenyl ether at varying dosages on air entrainment with Air 40 (0.005%)) in H2 fly ash:PCC concrete; H2 fly ash at 3.6 and 4.9% LOI (Results in Table 28).

TABLE 28 (results in FIG. 4) Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement Fly Ash % % % 1 0.005 0.0000 0.000 0 PCC 8.0 2 0.005 0.0000 0.000 0 PCC H2 25 3.6 3.8 3 0.005 0.0016 0.000 0.002 PCC H2 25 3.6 3.8 4 0.005 0.0016 0.025 0.03 1/16 PCC H2 25 3.6 7.0 5 0.005 0.0016 0.050 0.07 1/31 PCC H2 25 3.6 7.0 6 0.005 0.0016 0.075 0.10 1/47 PCC H2 25 3.6 7.8 7 0.005 0.0000 0.000 0 PCC H2 25 4.9 2.5 8 0.005 0.0016 0.000 0.002 PCC H2 25 4.9 2.5 9 0.005 0.0016 0.025 0.03 1/16 PCC H2 25 4.9 5.3 10 0.005 0.0016 0.050 0.07 1/31 PCC H2 25 4.9 5.5 11 0.005 0.0016 0.075 0.10 1/47 PCC H2 25 4.9 5.4

Observations:

In this particular case, the air entrainment is increased to near ‘normal’ (without fly ash) levels with very low ND:EGPE ratios and moderate total dosage of the combined sacrificial agent.

Example 25

Influence of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether at fixed 1:3 ratio and varying total dosages on air entrainment with Air 40 (0.012 wt %) in B1 fly ash:PCC concrete; B1 fly ash at four different LOI (Results in Table 29).

TABLE 29 (Results illustrated in FIG. 5) Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement Fly Ash % % % 1 0.012 0.000 0.000 0 PCC 9.0 2 0.012 0.000 0.000 0 PCC B1 25 2.06 5.5 3 0.012 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC B1 25 2.06 8.2 4 0.012 0.017 0.05 0.07 1/3 PCC B1 25 2.06 8.0 5 0.012 0.025 0.075 0.10 1/3 PCC B1 25 2.06 7.6 7 0.012 0.000 0.000 0 PCC B1 25 3.70 3.8 8 0.012 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC B1 25 3.70 6.7 9 0.012 0.017 0.05 0.07 1/3 PCC B1 25 3.70 8.0 10 0.012 0.025 0.075 0.10 1/3 PCC B1 25 3.70 7.1 12 0.012 0.000 0.000 0 PCC B1 25 4.70 3.2 13 0.012 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC B1 25 4.70 7.0 14 0.012 0.017 0.05 0.07 1/3 PCC B1 25 4.70 7.6 15 0.012 0.025 0.075 0.10 1/3 PCC B1 25 4.70 7.6 17 0.012 0.000 0.000 0 PCC B1 25 5.74 3.0 18 0.012 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC B1 25 5.74 7.3 19 0.012 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCC B1 25 5.74 8.0 20 0.012 0.025 0.075 0.10 1/3 PCC B1 25 5.74 7.6

Observations:

-   -   In this series of tests, the air entrainment agent dosage is         high so the % air value in cement-only concrete is high (9%),     -   The % air entrained in FA-cement concrete is not related to the         LOI in the absence of sacrificial agent.     -   Regardless of the % LOI (2.06, 3.7, 4.7 or 5.74), relatively low         dosages of the sacrificial agents combination (0.075 wt %)         yields % air entrainment values comparable to that in         cement-only concrete.

Example 26

Influence of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether at fixed 1:3 ratio and varying total dosages on air entrainment with Air 40 (0.005 wt %) in E1 fly ash:PCC concrete; E1 fly ash at two different LOI (Results in Table 30).

TABLE 30 (Results shown in FIG. 6) Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement Fly Ash % % % 1 0.005 0.000 0.000 0 PCC 7.9 2 0.005 0.000 0.000 0 PCC E1 25 1.28 1.3 3 0.005 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC E1 25 1.28 4.9 4 0.005 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCC E1 25 1.28 7.4 5 0.005 0.025 0.075 0.10 1/3 PCC E1 25 1.28 8.0 6 0.005 0.000 0.000 0 PCC E1 25 2.29 0.9 7 0.005 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC E1 25 2.29 2.6 8 0.005 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCC E1 25 2.29 5.4 9 0.005 0.025 0.075 0.10 1/3 PCC E1 25 2.29 7.0

Observations:

-   -   Although the LOI values of these FA are relatively low, they         sharply reduce the % air when present in concrete (from 7.9% to         approximately 1%),

In the presence of increasing dosages of the ND/EGPE combination, the % air values are increased to values close to those in cement-only concrete.

Example 27

Influence of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether at fixed 1:3 ratio and varying total dosages on air entrainment with Air 40 (varying dosages) in C1 fly ash:PCC concrete; C1 fly ash at 0.62% LOI (Results in Table 31).

TABLE 31 (results in FIG. 7) Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement fly ash % % % 1 0.003 0.00 PCC 7.4 2 0.003 0.00 PCC C1 25 0.62 2.7 3 0.003 0.012 0.035 0.05 1/3 PCC C1 25 0.62 5.8 4 0.003 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCC C1 25 0.62 6.5 5 0.003 0.00 PCC 6.0 6 0.007 0.00 PCC 8.7 7 0.012 0.00 PCC 9.4 8 0.000 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC C1 25 0.62 4.5 9 0.004 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC C1 25 0.62 5.5 10 0.008 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC C1 25 0.62 8.1 11 0.012 0.008 0.025 0.03 1/3 PCC C1 25 0.62 9.2

Observations:

-   -   With this particular fly ash, the % air entrained is strongly         depressed, in spite of its relatively low LOI value (lines 1-2).     -   Addition of increasing amounts of sodium di-isopropyl         naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether at a         fixed ratio (1/3), allows to recover adequate entrained air         levels (lines 3-4).     -   Increasing the Air 40 dosage, at fixed content of sodium         di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate/ethylene glycol phenyl ether,         also yields a smooth increase of the air entrained with air         entrainment agents dosage as desired in practice (lines 8-11);         the latter increase is comparable with the air entrained in         cement-only concrete in identical conditions (lines 5-7).

Results Pretaining to the Performance of Sacrificial Agents in the Presence of Activated Carbon Added Intentionnally in the Fly Ash

The following examples show the effects of intentionally increasing the carbon content of the fly ash by adding activated carbon; the latter may or may not be similar to the carbon originally present in the fly ash.

In the testing referenced described below, the activated carbon used was DARCO FGD from Norit Americas Inc. This is a lignite coal-based activated carbon manufactured specifically for the removal of heavy metals and other contaminants typically found in incinerator flue gas emission streams. Its use has been reported effective for the removal of mercury in coal combustion gas streams. The material used was 95% minus a 325 sieve with general characteristics of a specific surface area of 600 m²/g and an iodine number of 600 g/mg.

Example 28

Influence of sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether at fixed 1:3 ratio and total dosage (0.07 wt %) on air entrainment with Air 40 (0.004 wt %) in C1 fly ash:PCC concrete containing activated carbon added at 0.5 and 1 wt % on fly ash; C1 fly ash at 0.18% LOI, (Results in Table 32).

TABLE 32 Activated Total Carbon/fly Air 40 ND EGPE SA ND/ fly ash LOI Air ash Line % CM % CM % CM % CM EGPE Cement fly ash % % % % 1 0.004 0.00 PCC C1 25 0.18 5.7 None 2 0.004 0.00 PCC C1 25 0.18 1.0 0.50 3 0.004 0.00 PCC C1 25 0.18 0.8 1.00 4 0.004 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCC C1 25 0.18 7.0 0.50 5 0.004 0.017 0.050 0.07 1/3 PCC C1 25 0.18 5.7 1.00

Observations:

-   -   The addition of low amounts of activated carbon to a concrete         containing a low LOI fly ash strongly depresses the level of air         entrainment by Air 40 (lines 1-3).     -   Introduction of the sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene         sulfonate/ethylene glycol phenyl ether combination restores the         air entrainment to normal levels.

Results Pertaining to the Influence of the Mode of Addition on the Performance of Sacrificial Agents

In previous examples, the sacrificial agents were added together with the air entrainment agents during the concrete batching process. The data below relates to alternate means of addition of the sacrificial agents.

Example 29

Comparative air entrainment in B1 fly ash:PCA concrete by Air 30 or Air 40 (varying dosages) and ethylene glycol phenyl ether (0.01 wt %) when the sacrificial agents is added either during batching or pre-mixed with the fly ash; B1 fly ash at 4.7% LOI, (Results in Table 33).

TABLE 33 Total ND EGPE SA Fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement fly ash % % % Air 30 % CM 1 0.006 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 11.4 2* 0.006 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 10.0 Air 40 % CM 1 0.003 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 2.7 2* 0.003 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 2.9 3 0.008 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.9 4* 0.008 0.100 0.10 PCA B1 25 4.7 4.7 *premix sacrificial agents with fly ash

Observations:

-   -   When the ethylene glycol phenyl ether is premixed to the fly ash         material before batching the concrete, the observed % air is         comparable to that observed with the simultaneous addition of         ethylene glycol phenyl ether, with both types of common air         entrainment agents (comparing lines 1 and 2*, 3 and 4*).     -   The same observation was made for both types of common concrete         air entrainment agents Air 30 and Air 40.

Example 30

Comparison of results for sacrificial agents added during concrete mixing, or after concrete mixing. The sacrificial agents combination is sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate:ethylene glycol phenyl ether at 1:15 ratio and varying total dosages; H2 fly ash:PCC concrete; H2 fly ash at 3.96% or 5.7% LOI (Results in Table 34)

TABLE 34 Total Air 40 ND EGPE SA fly ash LOI Air Line % CM % CM % CM % CM ND/EGPE Cement Fly Ash % % % 1 0.005 0.000 PCC H2 25 3.96 2.4 2* 0.005 0.0017 0.025 0.027 1/15 PCC H2 25 3.96 4.5 3** 0.005 0.0017 0.025 0.027 1/15 PCC H2 25 3.96 5.6 4 0.005 0.000 PCC H2 25 5.70 1.9 5* 0.005 0.0033 0.050 0.053 1/15 PCC H2 25 5.70 4.4 6** 0.005 0.0033 0.050 0.053 1/15 PCC H2 25 5.70 5.1 *sacrificial agents added 0-15 minutes after making concrete with Air 40 **sacrificial agents added together with Air 40 during mixing operation

Observations:

-   -   A comparison of the entries in lines 1-3, or lines 4-6, shows         that the sacrificial agents is also effective in increasing air         entrainment in fly ash concrete when added after the concrete         mixing operation is completed. In this case the % air achieved         is somewhat lower than if the sacrificial agents and air         entrainment agents are added simultaneously.     -   The sacrificial agents of the present invention can thus be         introduced at various point in the concrete fabrication process,         namely: pre-mix with the fly ash before making concrete, during         the concrete batching process, before introduction of the air         entrainment agents, together with the air entrainment agents, or         after the air entrainment agents when the concrete mixing is         completed.

Results Pertaining to Properties of Air Void Systems in Fly Ash Concrete Prepared with and without Sacrificial Agents

An important aspect of the air entrained in concrete is its distribution within the pastes. Standard concrete practices defined by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) or ASTM provide specific requirements on ‘bubble’ size, size distribution, surface area, etc. The critical parameters of air voids obtained in air entrained concrete with and without sacrificial agents are reported in Table 35.

Example 31

Results of Petrographic Analysis of Air Voids Systems for several fly ash concrete (Results in Table 35).

TABLE 35 ACI/ASTM specifications Fly ash None B1 B1 B2 B2 H2 H2 Fly ash LOI (%) NA 5.7 5.7 1.8 4.8 2.7 4.9 Air 40 Dosage (% CM) 0.003 0.012 0.005 0.007 0.007 0.005 0.005 EGPE (% of total CM) 0 0 0.05 0 0.075 0 0.05 ND (% of total CM) 0 0 0.013 0 0.025 0 0.0016 Fresh Air Content (%) 6.0 5.9 6.3 6.0 6.0 5.2 5.5 Air Content (%) 7.37 7.78 6.73 8.54 6.27 5.17 6.06 — Void Frequency (in.⁻¹) 12.77 12.43 10.35 15.13 10.24 10.42 11.05 Minimum 8 Paste/Air Ratio 3.10 2.58 3.22 2.73 4.01 4.16 3.97 Maximum 10 Average Chord Length (in.) 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.006 0.005 0.005 — Specific Surface (in.⁻¹) 693 639 615 709 653 807 729 Minimum 600 Spacing Factor (in.) 0.004 0.004 0.005 0.004 0.006 0.005 0.005 Maximum 0.008 Paste Content (%) 22.87 20.04 21.67 23.28 25.14 21.49 24.04 — Coarse Aggregate (%) 42.84 45.87 49.51 37.67 38.91 44.01 41.94 — Fine Aggregate (%) 26.93 26.31 22.09 30.51 29.68 29.34 27.96 — Traverse Area (In.²) 14.9 14.9 14.0 14.9 14.9 14.9 14.9 11 Traverse Length (in.) 94.4 94.4 92.7 94.4 94.4 94.4 94.4 90 Total Point Counted 1452 1452 1426 1452 1452 1452 1452 1350 Magnification 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 50

Observations:

-   -   The introduction of the sacrificial agents combination sodium         di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate/ethylene glycol phenyl ether         does significantly influence the air void parameters in the         concrete.

Examples Relating to Second Testing Protocol

Example 32

A wide variety of chemical compounds were chosen as potentially useful sacrificial agents and were evaluated through the second test protocol described above. The results obtained for 104 chemicals tested are collected in Table 36 and grouped by families of related compounds; for example, alcohols, polyols, ethers, etc; the entries in Table 36 are as explained below, and the significance of some of these entries is illustrated in FIG. 8.

-   -   Col. 1: Chemical name of compound tested as potential         sacrificial agent     -   Col. 2: Level of air entrainment by the candidate sacrificial         agent, at a concentration of 0.1 wt %, in a Portland cement         paste (‘A’ in FIG. 8)     -   Col. 3: Air entrainment by 0.0125 wt % of DDBS in the FA/cement         paste in the presence of 0.05 wt % of the candidate sacrificial         agent     -   Col. 4: Air entrainment by 0.0125 wt % of DDBS in the FA/cement         paste in the presence of 0.10 wt % of the candidate sacrificial         agent     -   Col. 5: Sacrificial agent overall rating index (described below)     -   Col. 6: Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) values of candidate         sacrificial agent (source and significance of HLB data given         below)     -   Col. 7: Logarithm of the Oil(octanol)/water partition         coefficient (K_(ow)) of the candidate sacrificial agents (source         and significance of data given below).

TABLE 36 Data from paste air testing protocol for relative assessment of various candidate sacrificial agents B1 + B1 + PCA + 0.0125% 0.0125% SA 0.1% DDBS + DDBS + Rating SA 0.05% SA 0.1% SA (0-4) HLB Alcohols LogKow Methanol 0.6 1.9 2.2 0 7.5 −0.63 Ethanol 1.5 3.1 3.3 0 7.0 −0.14 n-Propanol 2.0 3.5 4.4 1 6.5 0.35 i-Propanol 2.4 3.7 4.1 1 6.5 0.28 1-Butanol 1.2 5.9 6.5 4 6.0 0.84 2-Butanol 1.4 6.0 6.6 4 6.0 0.77 tert-Butanol 0.8 6.3 7.0 4 6.0 0.73 1-Pentanol 0.9 4.9 4.7 3 5.6 1.33 3-Pentanol 0.5 6.1 6.3 4 5.6 1.26 Neopentanol 0.8 4.9 4.7 3 5.6 1.22 Hexanol 0.0 4.2 2.7 1 5.1 1.82 1-Octanol 0.0 2.1 1.4 0 4.1 2.81 1-Decanol 0.0 2.1 1.7 0 3.2 3.79 Benzyl alcohol 0.6 4.1 5.4 3 5.5 1.08 Phenyl ethyl alcohol 0.7 4.5 5.5 3 5.1 1.57 Polyols, diols Ethylene Glycol 0.0 2.4 2.8 0 8.3 −1.20 Propylene Glycol 0.5 3.0 3.6 0 7.8 −0.78 2,3-Butanediol 1.2 3.6 3.7 0 7.3 −0.36 Glycerol 0.1 n.a. 2.3 2 9.1 −1.65 Inositol 0.1 2.1 2.1 0 11.9 −2.08 Sorbitol 0.5 2.2 4.2 1 11.6 −3.01 Ethers Ethylene Glycol Methyl Ether 0.7 3.3 4.3 1 8.2 −0.91 Ethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether 1.2 5.0 6.8 4 7.3 −0.42 Ethylene Glycol n-Propyl Ether 1.4 7.4 7.4 4 6.9 0.08 Ethylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether 2.0 8.8 9.5 4 6.4 0.57 Ethylene Glycol iso-Butyl Ether 1.7 8.8 9.5 4 6.0 0.49 Ethylene Glycol Phenyl Ether 1.5 6.9 8.1 4 5.4 1.10 Propylene Glycol Phenyl Ether 1.0 7.2 6.7 4 4.9 1.52 di-Propylene Glycol mono Methyl 1.1 8.7 9.7 4 7.2 −0.35 Ether di-Ethylene Glycol Butyl Ether 2.7 9.9 11.2  4 6.7 0.29 Ethylene Glycol di-Methyl Ether 1.5 4.9 5.8 4 7.3 −0.21 p-Dimethoxybenzene 0.7 4.7 4.0 2 6.5 2.15 Esters Methylpropionate 0.2 2.7 3.5 0 7.5 0.86 Methyloctanoate 0.0 4.8 2.2 2 5.1 3.32 Methyllaurate 1.0 4.6 2.8 1 3.2 5.28 Methylpalmitate 2.5 5.3 3.4 2 1.3 7.25 Methyloleate 0.5 5.1 2.7 2 0.5 8.02 Ethyl acetate 0.8 3.2 3.3 0 7.5 0.86 E.G. mono-ethyl ether acetate 0.0 4.7 4.7 2 7.7 0.59 Ethylpropionate 0.9 4.9 4.6 3 7.0 1.36 Ethylbutyrate 0.7 5.2 4.3 3 6.5 1.85 Ethylcaproate 0.0 4.3 2.4 1 5.6 2.83 N-Butyl phthalate 0.0 2.2 2.1 0 5.0 4.61 Dimethyl malonate 0.2 2.5 2.6 0 9.8 −0.09 Tween 20 (POE(20)sorbitan 2.6 9.2 8.5 4 16.7 −3.4 monolaurate) Carboxylic acids and derivatives LogKow(*) Hexanoic acid 2.4 5.1 4.9 4 6.5 −1.76 Oleic acid 2.1 2.2 1.9 0 1.0 3.92 Adipic acid 0.2 1.9 2.2 0 9.3 −5.03 Sodium Salicylate 0.4 2.9 3.0 0 7.8 −1.49 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid 1.0 2.1 2.4 0 7.8 −2.10 2,5-Dihydroxybenzoic acid 0.0 1.9 1.6 0 9.2 −1.97 Phenyl acetic acid 0.2 2.8 4.2 1 6.3 −2.02 2-Naphthoic acid 1.3 3.2 4.2 1 5.2 −1.09 Aromatic Sulfonates LogKow 4-Hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid 0.1 2.1 2.0 0 18.5 −3.43 4-Ethyl benzene sulfonic acid 1.3 4.8 6.2 3 16.3 −1.91 2-Naphthalenesulfonate Na 1.0 4.4 5.3 3 15.2 −1.78 p-Toluene Sulfonic acid 0.7 3.9 5.1 3 16.4 −2.40 2,6-naphthalene disulfonate Na 0.0 2.3 3.0 0 27.5 −3.51 Naphthalene trisulfonate Na 0.2 2.5 2.5 0 39.7 −5.25 4,5-Dihydroxynaphthalene-2,7- 0.0 2.0 2.5 0 29.9 −4.48 disulfonic acid, disodium salt 4-Amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene 0.4 3.1 2.9 0 26.0 −3.17 sulfonate Na Methyl naphthalene sulfonate Na 7.3 6.0 8.8 4 15.1 −1.23 Amines Triethylamine 0.5 5.2 5.1 4 12.8 1.51 Tripropylamine 0.3 2.6 2.4 0 11.4 2.99 n-butyl amine 1.2 5.7 8.1 4 13.5 0.83 Aniline (Phenylamine) 1.7 3.7 5.6 2 13.5 1.08 Benzyl amine 1.1 4.5 6.1 3 12.0 1.07 Alcoholamines Di-ethanolamine 0.3 2.7 2.6 0 16.5 −1.71 Tri-ethanolamine 0.6 2.5 3.1 0 16.7 −2.48 2-(2-Aminoethoxy)ethanol 0.5 3.1 3.9 1 16.1 −1.89 Di-isopropanolamine 1.1 4.6 5.5 3 15.6 −0.88 Tri-isopropanolamine 1.3 5.6 7.6 4 15.5 −1.22 2,3-diaminopropionic acid 0.3 1.7 1.9 0 26.7 −4.46 monohydrochloride Amides Urea 0.1 n.a. 2.0 2 25.2 −1.56 Dimethylurea 0.5 n.a. 2.9 2 24.4 −0.62 n-butyl urea 2.1 5.3 7.5 4 23.4 0.38 Ammonium salts Tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide 0.1 2.5 2.9 0 14.9 −2.47 Tetraethyl ammonium hydroxide 0.1 2.3 3.0 0 13.0 −0.51 Tetrapropyl ammonium hydroxide 0.6 3.9 4.8 3 11.1 1.45 Tetrabutyl ammonium chloride 0.6 4.9 4.1 3 n.a. 1.71 Benzyltrimethyl ammonium 1.0 2.3 3.0 0 11.9 −0.77 hydroxide Polyglycols tri-Ethylene Glycol 0.9 3.1 4.1 1 9.0 −1.75 Polyethylene glycol 200 0.9 4.3 5.7 3 9.3 −2.02 Polyethylene glycol 400 1.0 8.1 9.6 4 11.1 −3.26 Polyethylene glycol 2000 2.1 10.2  11.5  4 n.a. n.a. tri-Propylene glycol 1.6 7.8 9.2 4 7.6 −0.50 Polypropylene glycol 425 0.8 9.7 11.2  4 7.0 0.08 Polypropylene glycol 2200 0.0 1.5 1.0 0 3.2 4.37 P(EG-ran-propylene-glycol) 2500 2.3 9.8 12.2  4 n.a. n.a. PEO-PPO 0.33:1 triblock 1.7 3.1 3.0 0 n.a. 3.52 copolymer Phosphates Sodium phosphate dibasic 0.0 2.1 2.3 0 n.a. −5.80 Dimethylphosphate Na 1.3 2.5 2.7 0 n.a. −0.66 Sodium tripolyphosphate 0.2 2.2 1.9 0 n.a. −13.26 Miscellaneous 2-Butanone (Methyl ethyl 0.3 3.7 4.1 1 6.2 0.26 ketone) Methyl isobutylketone (MIBK) 0.3 5.6 3.9 2 5.2 1.16 Dimethylsulfoxide 0.0 2.5 3.1 0 n.a. −1.22 Ethylene carbonate 0.0 2.5 1.9 0 19.8 −0.34 Propylene carbonate 0.4 2.5 2.9 0 18.9 0.08 Acetonitrile 0.5 2.3 2.5 0 n.a. −0.15 Butyraldehyde 0.0 4.0 4.0 2 6.4 0.82 1-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidinone 1.9 3.6 3.8 0 15.1 −0.10 1-Ethyl-2-Pyrrolidinone 2.5 4.3 5.6 3 14.6 0.38 n-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidinone 2.8 3.7 4.3 1 14.9 0.25 Alpha-Pinene 0.4 2.4 2.9 0 2.5 4.27 (*)Sodium salts

REFERENCES

-   1. Dodson, V., Concrete admixtures. Structural Engineering Series,     Ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 211 pp., 1990. -   2. Rixom, R. and Mailvaganam N., Chemical Admixtures for Concrete.     3^(rd) Ed. E&FN SPON, London, Chap. 3, 437 pp., 1999. -   3. Ramachandran, V. S., Concrete Admixtures Handbook. Properties,     Sciences, and Technology. Ed. Noyes, New Jersey, 626 pp., 1984. -   4. Griffin, W. C., Classification of Surface Active Agents by “HLB”,     Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, V 1, pp. 311-326, 1949 -   5. Griffin, W. C., Calculation of HLB Values of Non-Ionic     Surfactants, Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, V 5, pp.     249-259, 1954 -   6. ‘The HLB Sytem, A time-saving guide to emulsifier selection’,     Ed., Chemmunique, Publication by ICI Americas Inc., 1980. -   7. Adamson A. W. and Gast A. P., Physical Chemistry of Surfaces, Ed.     John Wiley&Sons, Inc., 6^(th) ed., 1997. -   8. Davies, J. T., Proc. 2^(nd) International Congress on Surface     Activity, London, Vol. 1, p. 426, 1957. -   9. McGowan, J. C., A new approach for the calculation of     hydrophile-lipophile balance values of surfactants, Tenside,     Surfactants, Detergents, V 27(4), pp. 229-230, 1990 -   10. Sowada, R. and McGowan, J. C., Calculation of     hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) group numbers for some structural     units of emulsifying agents, Tenside, Surfactants, Detergents, V     29(2), pp. 109-113, 1992. -   11. Meylan, W. M. and Howard, P. H., Atom/fragment contribution     method for estimating octanol-water partition coefficients, J.     Pharm. Sci. V 84, pp. 83-92, 1995. and Interactive LogKow (KowWin)     Demo, http://esc.syrres.com/interkow/kowdemo.htm, Syracuse Research     Corporation, North Syracuse, New York. -   12. Interactive PhysProp Database Demo,     http://esc.syrres.com/interkow/physdemo.htm, Syracuse Research     Corporation, North Syracuse, New York. -   13. Tetko, I. V.; Tanchuk, V. Yu. Application of Associative Neural     Networks for Prediction of Lipophilicity in ALOGPS 2.1 Program. J.     Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., V 42(5), pp. 1136-1145, 2002, and Tetko, I.     V and Tanchuk, V. Y., http://146.107.217.178/lab/alogps/start.html,     Virtual Computational Chemistry Laboratory.

The disclosures of the above references are specifically incorporated herein by reference. 

1-94. (canceled)
 95. A composition comprising fly ash or another combustible ash that reduces or eliminates the effect the fly ash or the other combustible ash has on air entrainment in an air-entraining cementitious mixture comprising the fly ash or the other combustible ash and an air-entraining agent, the composition comprising fly ash or another combustible ash and a sacrificial agent, the sacrificial agent present in at least an amount necessary to neutralize the detrimental effects of components of the fly ash or the other combustible ash on air entrainment activity in the air-entraining cementitious mixture, the sacrificial agent comprising a material or mixture of materials that, when present in a cementitious mixture without fly ash or another combustible ash in said amount causes less than 2 vol. % additional air content in the cementitious mixture, wherein the sacrificial agent comprises an organic compound, with the proviso that the sacrificial agent does not comprise polyethylene glycol (PEG) or aromatic compounds having carboxylic acid groups, or salts thereof.
 96. The composition of claim 95, wherein said amount of said sacrificial agent exceeds an amount necessary to neutralize said detrimental effects of said components of said fly ash or other combustible ash.
 97. The composition of claim 96, wherein the sacrificial agent amount used does not result in a substantial increase in air entrainment compared to providing the sacrificial agent in an amount necessary to neutralize the detrimental effects of components of said fly ash on air entrainment activity.
 98. The composition of claim 97, wherein the sacrificial agent causes less than 2 vol. % additional air content in the cementitious mixture without fly ash.
 99. The composition of claim 95, wherein said fly ash or other combustible ash may vary in content of said components from a minimum content to a maximum content according to a source or batch of said fly ash or other combustible ash, and wherein said amount of said at least one sacrificial agent exceeds an amount necessary to neutralize said detrimental effects of said components of said fly ash when present in said maximum content.
 100. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of aromatic compounds bearing either sulfonate or amino functional groups or combinations of said groups, glycols and glycol derivates having molecular weights of 2000 Da or less, and mixtures thereof, with the proviso that said glycol derivative is not polyethylene glycol (PEG).
 101. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of benzylamine, sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate, sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, sodium di-butyl naphthalene sulfonate, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, butoxyethanol, di-ethylene glycol butyl ether, di-propylene glycol methyl ether, 1-phenyl 2-propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.
 102. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises a member of a class of organic chemicals, said class being selected from the group consisting of alcohols, diols, polyols, ethers, esters, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid derivatives, aromatic sulfonates, amines, alcoholamines, amides, ammonium salts, polyglycols, and mixtures thereof, with the provisos that said polyglycols are not polyethylene glycols, and said carboxylic acids and said carboxylic acid derivatives are not aromatic carboxylic acids or salts thereof.
 103. The composition of claim 102, wherein said sacrificial agent has a value of LogK_(ow) in the range of −3 to +2.
 104. The composition of claim 102, wherein said sacrificial agent has a value of LogK_(ow) in the range of −2 to +2.
 105. The composition of claim 102, wherein said sacrificial agent has an HLB value in the range of 5 to
 20. 106. The composition of claim 105, wherein said sacrificial agent is a mixture of compounds of different HLB values that together provide the sacrificial agent with an HLB value in said range of 5 to
 20. 107. The composition of claim 102, wherein the sacrificial agent comprises an ether.
 108. The composition of claim 107, wherein the ether is further defined as a glycol ether.
 109. The composition of claim 108, wherein the glycol ether comprises ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol n-propyl ether, ethylene glycol n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol iso-butyl ether, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, propylene glycol phenyl ether, di-propylene glycol mono methyl ether, di-ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol di-methyl ether, tri-ethylene glycol, tri-propylene glycol, P(EG-ran-propylene-glycol) 2500, or mixtures thereof.
 110. The composition of claim 109, wherein the glycol ether comprises ethylene glycol phenyl ether.
 111. The composition of claim 107, wherein the ether is further defined as a polyglycol ether.
 112. The composition of claim 111, wherein the polyglycol ether comprises polypropylene glycol 425, P(EG-ran-propylene-glycol) 2500, or mixtures thereof.
 113. The composition of claim 102, wherein the sacrificial agent comprises an amine.
 114. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises an alcohol selected from the group consisting of n-propanol, i-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, tertiary butanol, 1-pentanol, 3-pentanol, neopentanol, hexanol, benzyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
 115. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises an ether selected from ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol n-propyl ether, ethylene glycol n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol iso-butyl ether, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, propylene glycol phenyl ether, di-propylene glycol mono methyl ether, di-ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol di-methyl ether, tri-ethylene glycol, tri-propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol 425 and P(EG-ran-propylene-glycol) 2500, p-dimethoxybenzene, and mixtures thereof.
 116. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises an ester selected from the group consisting of methyloctanoate, methyllaurate, methylpalmitate, methyloleate, ethylene glycol mono-ethyl ether acetate, ethylpropionate, ethylbutyrate, ethylcaproate, POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate, and mixtures thereof.
 117. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises hexanoic acid.
 118. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises an aromatic sulfonate selected from the group consisting of 4-ethyl benzene sulfonic acid, 2-naphthalenesulfonate Na, p-toluene sulfonic acid, methyl naphthalene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof.
 119. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises an amine selected from the group consisting of triethylamine, n-butyl amine, aniline, benzyl amine, and mixtures thereof.
 120. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises an alcoholamine selected from the group consisting of 2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol, di-isopropanolamine, tri-isopropanolamine, and mixtures thereof.
 121. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises an amide selected from the group consisting of urea, dimethlyurea, n-butyl urea, and mixtures thereof.
 122. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises an ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of tetrapropyl ammonium hydroxide, tetrabutyl ammonium chloride, and mixtures thereof.
 123. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises a polyglycol selected from the group consisting of tri-ethylene glycol, tri-propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol 425, P(EG-ran-propylene-glycol) 2500, and mixtures thereof.
 124. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of 2-butanone, methylisobutylketone, butyraldehyde, 1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and mixtures thereof.
 125. The composition of claim 95, wherein the sacrificial agent present is a mixture of two or more compounds.
 126. The composition of claim 125, wherein the mixture of two or more compounds together have a hydrophobic lipophilic balance rating in the range of 5 to
 20. 127. The composition of claim 125, wherein the mixture of two or more compounds together have a LogKow is in the range of −3 to +2.
 128. The composition of claim 125, wherein the mixture of two or more compounds together have a LogKow is in the range of −2 to +2.
 129. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises a compound having hydrophobic lipophilic balance rating in the range of 5 to
 20. 130. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises a compound for which LogK_(ow) is in the range of −3 to +2.
 131. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises a compound for which LogK_(ow) is in the range of −2 to +2.
 132. The composition of claim 95, wherein said sacrificial agent comprises a combination of ethylene glycol phenyl ether and sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate.
 133. The composition of claim 132, wherein the relative proportion of said ethylene glycol phenyl ether and said sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate is in the range of relative weight ratios between 1:5 and 50:1.
 134. The composition of claim 95, wherein said amount of sacrificial agent is at least 0.01% by weight of said fly ash or other combustible ash.
 135. The composition of claim 95, wherein said amount of sacrificial agent is in the range of 0.01 to 2.0% by weight of said fly ash or other combustible ash.
 136. The composition of claim 95, wherein said amount of sacrificial agent is in the range of 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of said fly ash or other combustible ash.
 137. The composition of claim 95, wherein said fly ash or other combustible ash consists essentially of fly ash.
 138. The composition of claim 95, wherein said fly ash or other combustible ash comprises a blend of fly and another combustible ash.
 139. The composition of claim 95, wherein the sacrificial agent, when present in the same cementitious mixture without fly ash or the other combustible ash in said amount causes less than 1 vol. % additional air content in the cementitious mixture.
 140. The composition of claim 95, wherein said components are carbon content.
 141. A composition that addresses the variance of carbon content in fly ash or another combustible ash used in cementitious compositions to provide a cementitious composition with a substantially constant level of air entrainment, comprising fly ash or another combustible ash and a sacrificial agent, the sacrificial agent present in at least an amount necessary to neutralize the detrimental effects of components of the fly ash or the other combustible ash on air entrainment activity in the air-entraining cementitious mixture, the sacrificial agent comprising a material or mixture of materials that, when present in a cementitious mixture without fly ash or another combustible ash in said amount causes less than 2 vol. % additional air content in the cementitious mixture, wherein the sacrificial agent comprises an organic compound, with the proviso that the sacrificial agent does not comprise polyethylene glycol (PEG) or aromatic compounds having carboxylic acid groups, or salts thereof. 